Sources say the Tokyo District Court has sent a letter to a religious group formerly known as the Unification Church regarding a government request for an administrative penalty due to insufficient responses to inquiries.

The sources say the group has been given one month to provide its stance on the request. The court is expected to make a careful decision after hearing from all concerned parties.

The culture ministry has been investigating the group's alleged questionable marketing practices and solicitations of large donations from its followers.

It has exercised its legal authority to question the group seven times on more than 500 points related to management, donations and practices.

It says the group has refused to answer over 100 of them. Last month, the ministry requested that the court impose a fine on the group for its failure to respond properly.

The group is expected to tell the court that exercising the legal authority to question is illegal.

The government is also in the final stages of preparing to seek a court order to revoke the group's legal status as a religious corporation, which would result in the loss of tax benefits.

The government plans to convene an advisory panel to the culture minister on October 12 at the earliest to hear expert opinions of the matter.