Crime Branch to probe Sarathi Baba episode

Odisha Channel Bureau Kendrapara, Aug 6: Three days after an Odia television channel exposed the escapades of the self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a Crime Branch probe into the episode today.A three-member team of the Crime Branch will visit the Baba’s ashram on Friday to begin investigation into the allegations leveled against the godman, according to sources.A social activist, however, said that the Crime Branch probe was an “eyewash” as many leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal as well as their voters were devotees of the godman.Hundreds of angry protestors, who gathered near the Baba’s ashram, however, demanded that the Baba should be arrested without delay.They were chased away by the lathi-wielding policemen in the evening. The government ordered the Crime Branch probe as protest a series of demonstrations were organised by various political parties, women’s organisations and students in Kendrapara and many other places across the State for the second consecutive day today.BJP, CPI(M) and CPI staged dharnas in Kendrapara and petitioned the district collector demanding the arrest of the Baba under NSA.Similar protests were witnessed in many parts of the State on Tuesday and the protestors had also burnt the effigy of the self-styled godman at various places.Many complaints were also lodged with the Kendrapara police seeking action against the fake Baba.As angry protestors gathered at the Baba’s ashram on the outskirts of Kendrapara town, nine platoons of policemen had been deployed there to protect the ashram from any attack.The police had also resorted to lathi-charge to chase away the protestors who had gathered near the ashram of the Baba at Barimula on Wednesday evening.The television channel had reported that the Baba had gone to Hyderabad with a girl from Kendrapara and stayed in a hotel there.