Bhubaneswar: Controversial self-styled 'godman' Sarathi Baba was today arrested by Odisha police on cheating and other charges following violent protests demanding action against him for his alleged escapades.
The arrest came after over 10 hours of intense grilling at his ashram at Barimula in Kendrapara district since yesterday and later at crime branch headquarters at Cuttack.
He was put under arrest this morning, crime branch ADG BK Sharma said.
Sarathi has been booked under various section of IPC including 420 (cheating), 120(B) criminal conspiracy and 341 (wrongful restraint) as well under the Arms Act and SC/ST Act.
The self-styled 'godman' has been at the centre of a controversy after a TV channel showed pictures alleging that Meanwhile, a woman medico who allegedly accompanied
Sarathi to Hyderabad last month and stayed in a hotel for three days has lodged a complaint apprehending threat to her life and seeking police protection.
Police said an FIR was registered on her complaint in which the woman has mentioned the names of four persons for blackmailing her and threatening of dire consequences if she did not do what they wanted.
All these four were previously associated with the Ashram of the self-stled Godman, the complaint said.
