No Independence Day relief for arrested godman Sarathi Baba, lands in jail

CUTTACK: Arrested self-styled godman Sarathi Baba was sent to Choudwar circle jail here today even as hundreds of convicts elsewhere in the country were released from prisons on the occasion of Independence Day.

Cuttack Sub-divisional judicial magistrate B Goutam remanded Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Roul in judicial custody after rejecting his bail application that came up for consideration for the first time during the day.

Despite a national holiday, the SDJM court was opened in the first hours of the day to take up the matter as the police remand of the arrested godman ended midnight.

Ever since his arrest by Odisha Police crime branch last Saturday, Roul was taken on remand by the police for six days in two phases for questioning.

Booked under several sections of IPC, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Arms Act and Religious Institutions (Misuse) Act, the bail application came up for hearing for the first time during the day as the lawyers of the city were on strike for the whole of last week.

Although, the crime branch police did not seek any further remand of the accused, its counsel opposed his bail application saying that the investigations in the case are still on.

The 'godman' would be produced in the court again on August 21.

A team of crime branch sleuths would go to Hyderabad on Monday for further investigation.

The 'godman' was arrested following a massive public outcry against his alleged escapades and exploitation of people's sentiments by use of black magic.

The police have unearthed huge ill-gotten properties in the name of the 'godman' and the trust he was running in the name of his adopted son Satyam Roul.

Many bank accounts operated by him have now been frozen while the police are looking for his absconding adopted son.