Odisha Crime Branch arrests self-styled godman Sarathi Baba from his

The local channels showed a purported photograph of Sarathi Baba wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and sporting sunglasses, reportedly in the lobby of a posh Hyderabad hotel.

Agitations were witnessed across the state in the past two days demanding arrest of Sarathi, after a private TV channel showed pictures of the self-styled godman sitting in a hotel lobby and accused him of spending two days with a woman at a Hyderabad hotel.

Police in Kendrapara said they had prohibited an assembly of more than 10 people in Tinimuhani and Barimula area where the ashram of the self-styled godman is located.

As per the sources from CM’s Office, the letter containing the order has already been dispatched to the Crime Branch DG B.K. Sharma.

Meanwhile, a four member team of State Crime Branch arrived at Kendrapara to question the godman at latter’s sprawling campus. “On the basis of the outcome of the initial interrogation, appropriate action will be taken”, said Sharma.

Alleging a nexus among the ruling BJD, the police and the controversial “godman”, the BJP demonstrated against Gajbhiye in several places of the state seeking his arrest. The police cracked down with teargas shells and lathicharge.

The district administration deployed 20 platoons of safety personnel. As the local television channels flashed the police high-handedness throughout the day, the government immediately replaced Satish Gajbhiye, Kendrapara Superintendent of Police, and appointed Nitinjit Singh in his place.

“We have arrested 10 people“.

Besides, the government directed Inspector General of Police R.P. Koche to reach the incident spot to take stock of the situation. Mohapatra also condemned police action against those demanding the arrest of the controversial Baba. Last year, he set up a huge temple in Kendrapara, and was reported to sit on a throne inside.

The report carried an interview with Kailash Chandra Mallick, who worked for the Baba for almost a decade before parting ways with him, during which he made some explosive revelations about his former employer.