Police informs HC of swami's arrest

Kochi, May 13 (UNI) Kerala Police today informed the High Court that controversial Swami Amritachaitanya alias Santosh Madhavan was arrested this morning and submitted that his plea for anticipatory bail had thus become infructuous.

Director General of Prosecution P G Thambi submitted before Justice V K Mohanan that the swami was arrested by 0900 hrs.

Police had registered a case of cheating under section 420 IPC two days ago against the swami for allegedly cheating a Dubai-based Kerala woman Serafin Edwin of Rs 40 lakh in 2002.

Senior counsel S Gopakumaran Nair, appearing for Amritachaitanya, however, contended that the arrest itself was illegal and the plea for anticipatory bail, filed yesterday, was maintainable.

The counsel contended that the arrest was illegal as it was made while the anticipatory bail plea was pending.

The court will take up the case again at 1500 hrs.

A look-out notice had been issued by the 'International Criminal Police Organization' (Interpol) against the swami in the cheating case.

In a raid on the swami's flat at Kadvanthara here on Saturday night, police had seized a tiger skin valued at Rs 150,000, pornograhic CDs and magazines, a police uniform, a liqour bottle and some documents relating to land deals.

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