Police register two cases against godman

Kochi, May 11 (UNI) Police today registered a cheating case against controversial godman Amritachaitanya alias Santhosh Madhavan based on a complaint by a Dubai-based Keralite woman.

As per the complaint by Sarafin Edwin, filed through e-mail and fax, the Swami had cheated Rs 40 lakh from her and a case had been registered under sec 420 of IPC, police said.

Earlier, police had registered a case against the Swami under Wildlife Protection Act for possession of tiger skin worth Rs 1.5 lakh, which was seized during a raid conducted on his flat last night.

Meanhwile, the forest department officials, who examined the tiger skin, had expressed doubt about the genuity of the skin and police was planning to sent the skin to the forensic lab in Hyderabad for further examination.

Swami, on whom a look-out notice was issued by the 'International Criminal Police Organization' (Interpol), in the financial fraud case in the UAE, was not present at the apartment during the raid.

Besides the tiger skin, the police also confiscated articles including pornographic CDs, a police uniform, liqour bottle and some documents relating to land deals.

Reports from Idukki said police conducted raids at Swami's ancestral home and business establishment at Kattappana in Idukki district.

Police had raided the guest house owned by Swami on May 8 following media reports that he had criminal antecedents.

UNI MA ROY SP US1944