Sarathi Baba's remand extended by 3 more days

Bhubaneswar, Aug 12: Self-styled godman Sarathi Baba, who arrested on the charges of cheating, was today remanded in the custody of the Crime Branch of Odisha Police for three more days.

Santosh Kumar Raul alias Sarathi Baba was today produced before the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate B Goutam, who allowed the Crime Branch to take him on remand till August 14.

Earlier, the Crime Branch had taken Sarathi on remand for three days which ended yesterday. Sarathi was arrested by the Crime Branch on August 8 on charge of cheating and dishonesty following a state-wide hue and cry over his alleged escapades.

While seeking extension of Sarathi's remand, the Crime Branch officials justified its requirement by producing document against Sarathi Baba and a seizure list of his properties.

During the first phase of remand, the Crime Branch had interrogated 13 associates of Sarathi Baba, including the caretaker, driver and the cook of his Barimula ashram and collected vital information.

Crime Branch ADG B K Sharma said the agency has detected properties worth about Rs 8-10 crore owned by Sarathi Baba and the Trust run by him.

This apart, the Crime Barnch has also interrogated four persons named in the FIR of the woman medico, who allegedly accompanied Sarathi to a hotel in Hyderabad.

Claiming that the Crime Branch has made vital breakthroughs in the case during the three-day interrogation, Sharma said as many as 30 officers are engaged in the investigation against Sarathi.

"The focus of investigation during the second phase of remand will be on the financial transaction of the Baba and the Satyam Charitable Trust," Sharma said.

PTI