Post News Network
Cuttack, August 8: The Crime Branch (CB) police arrested self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raula from Kendrapara in the wee hours of Saturday under Sections 120 (B), 420, 467, 468, 341, 506, 379, Arms Act, Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988 , and provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The arrest came in the wake of violent protests in his hometown demanding action against the godman following media expose of his wrongdoings.
“After the state government directed the CB to probe the matter, a special enquiry committee comprising an additional superintendent of police rank officer, and three other officers was formed. The team then visited his ashram at Barimula near Kendrapara to investigate the case,” Bijay Kumar Sharma, additional director general (ADG) of police (CB), told media persons at Orissa Police headquarters here Saturday afternoon.
“On the basis of the report of investigating officer Alok Das, a case (17/15) was registered against Sarathi. We have filed a three-page First Information Report (FIR) against him. Earlier, the officials had raided his ashram and recovered `2, 28, 000, 15 kg silver, 54.1 grams gold, 55 kg metal coins, bank documents, property documents and two swords,” Sharma said.
“Our focus will be to probe allegations against him of intimidating people in his ashram, showcasing magical powers, forging documents, possession of illegal properties among other things,” he added.
Sources said social activist Kailash Mallick has lodged a complaint with Kendrapara police alleging that Sarathi was intimidating people in his ashram. CB sources said Sarathi’s family members, including his adopted son and his associates have been named accused in the case and that the charges slapped against him may lead to his imprisonment for a period of 10 years. They added investigations into the Baba’s sexual exploitation are in progress.
Sarathi was arrested after 10 hours’ of intense grilling by CB-ADG, investigating officer, and other officials at crime branch headquarters at Cuttack. Cuttack sub-divisional judicial magistrate B Goutam later allowed the Crime Branch to take the godman on a three-day remand from Sunday. Police took him to Choudwar Circle jail after the court rejected Sarathi’s bail petition.
