Fresh case filed against Sarathi Baba

Odisha Channel Bureau Cuttack, Aug 22: Fresh trouble has surfaced for self-styled godman Sarathi Baba as Crime Branch wing of Odisha police registered a case under Indian Penal Code section 354 (molestation) against the controversial spiritual guru.Earlier booked under several sections of IPC, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Arms Act and Religious Institutions (Misuse) Act, Sarathi’s bail application today came up for hearing before the Additional District and Sessions Judge here on Friday.However, the court dismissed the bail plea and remanded him to jail custody till September 2.The godman, who had spread his spiritual empire and had lakh of followers spread across the state, was entangled in yet another offence with Crime Branch filing another case on charge of outraging the modesty of a woman devotee.The victim, who hailed from Barimula village where the fake godman had incidentally set up a sprawling ashram, had earlier drawn the attention of the Crime Branch on the alleged escapade of Sarathi.Meanwhile, 20-year-old Satyam Sekhar Roul ‘son’ of self styled god man Sarathi was grilled by the crime branch interrogators for several hours.Satyam who was earlier arrested from Mumbai on Wednesday was earlier brought under remand.Crime Branch in looking into Sarathi’s financial transactions, real estate business, alleged link in chit fund scam and Odisha film and album industry.