Sarathi Baba Arrested, Crime Branch to seek 5 Day Remand

Putting all speculations into rest, the Crime Branch officially arrested Santosh Kumar Roul alias Sarathi Baba at the Cuttack Headquarters following a marathon questioning, which started yesterday afternoon at his Barimula Ashram in Kendrapara. Earlier, Sarathi was brought to Crime Branch HQ in Cuttack at around 4 AM today. The FIR was filed by Additional SP of the Crime Branch himself.

Cash worth Rs 2.28 lakh, 54.1 gm gold ornaments, 15kg silver ornaments and 55kg metals were seized from his Ashram. Many sensitive documents were seized and his bank accounts were sealed.

Sarathi Baba is charged under Sections 420 (Cheating), 467 (Forgery), 468 (Forgery for purpose of Cheating), 471 (Using Forged Documents), 506 (Criminal Intimidation), 321 (Voluntarily causing Hurt to People), Section 341 (Wrongful Restraint), Section 379 (Theft), 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) of the IPC. Further, he is charged under the  SC And The ST(Prevention Of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

As two swords were recovered from the Ashram, he was charged under 25 Arms Act. Sarathi Baba is also charged under Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988.

He will be forwarded to court later. The Crime Branch will seek a five-day remand of Sarathi Baba. It was confirmed by Crime Branch ADG BK Sharma.

Now, the investigation will be related to Black Money, Criminal Intimidation and Land Fraud. His alleged investment in Ollywood movies, is also under the scanner. However, there is no information on his chit fund links. Sarathi won’t be charged for immoral trafficking or sexual offences, as no such complaints have been made against him.