Sarathi Saga: The Murky Tale of a Godman From Odisha

Yet another Godman from Odisha Sarathi Baba was arrested on Saturday for forgery and criminal intimidation.

The controversial godman Sarathi Baba. 

The controversy surrounding self-styled godwoman Radhe Maa is yet to die down, but now an infamous god man from Odisha, Sarathi Baba, who has occupied regional media space since last five days, has joined the league.

A Crime Branch team arrested Sarathi Baba, a godman with lakhs of followers, early morning Saturday from his Ashram at Barimul in Kendrapara, around 100kms away from Bhubaneswar.

He was arrested around 4 AM, after twelve hours of questioning by a six member team of the Crime Branch. The official announcement of the arrest was made by the crime branch ADG BK Sharma at a press conference today.

Who is Sarathi Baba?

The journey of Santosh Raul, born to a humble parentage, to the charismatic Srimad Sarathi Baba is full of controversies.

• Santosh Raul, a college drop-out vanished in 1985 and reappeared in 1992. During these seven years he is said to have acquired some black magic skills.
• He started an Ashram in Barimul, Kendrapara towards the end of 1992.
• He is known as an incarnation of Lord Krishna, Shrimad Sarathi Dev, to his followers.
• He is close to the ruling party in Odisha and his followers include Ministers, IAS officers, top businessmen, among others.
• Sarathi Baba clandestinely carries bibhuti (magical dust) and claims to have produced it from thin air to mesmerise his followers.
• There are many videos showing honey dripping out of his feet.
• Unlike other saints, he leads a lavish life, loves wearing modern outfits, and has a penchant for foreign liquor and chicken – according to his close aides.
• Baba has a close group of 20-22 women followers, all in their 20s, with whom he allegedly spends exclusive time at his private chamber in the Ashram.
• Several complaints of land grab, criminal intimidation and promoting superstition have been made against him in the past, but there was no police action.

Sarathi Baba being taken into custody by the Crime Branch of Odisha police (Photo: OTV)

Sarathi Baba has been arrested on the charges of cheating, forgery, criminal intimidation and conspiracy. The probe team also found evidence linked to blackmailing and sexual harassment of women followers with photographs taken by hidden cameras within the Ashram premises.

According to the Crime Branch, 2 lakh rupees in cash, some documents related to properties belonging to the Baba’s ashram, and around 500gm gold jewellery were seized. Bank accounts of the Sarathi Baba Trust have also been frozen by the probe agency.

Events Leading to the Arrest

Alleged Police excess during Kendrapara Band by BJP demanding arrest of Sarathi Baba (Photo: Orissadiary)

• August 3: Odia television news channels aired photographs of Baba Sarathi with a young girl. The Baba had allegedly spent three days with this girl in a five star hotel in Hyderabad.
• August 4: Protests erupted in Kendrapara, and other parts of Odisha as the Baba denied ever visiting Hyderabad.
• August 5: The Baba’s supporters at a press conference were held up by women groups in Bhubaneswar, later police rescued them.
• August 6: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a crime branch probe following violent protests in several parts of the state.
• August 7: Kendrapara SP Satish Gajbhiye was transferred for police atrocity on protesters.
• August 7: Crime Branch team reached Baba’s Ashram in Kendrapara in the evening.
• August 8: Sarathi Baba was arrested by crime branch after a marathon round of questioning.

Sarathi Baba in the Hyderabad hotel lobby.

Being Spotted With a Girl in Hyderabad Spelled Doom for Baba

Sarathi Baba was seen with a young girl, a medical student in her 20s, in Golconda Hotel in Hyderabad. It is alleged that Baba Sarathi had spent three days with the girl at the hotel. The regional news channel which broke the story informed that the girl was introduced as the wife of the Baba at the hotel.

The girl broke her silence after four days of the first airing of the news report.

The girl claimed she had travelled to Hyderabad with the Baba on her own accord. However, she alleged that she is being blackmailed by four close associates of the Baba on the basis of a few photographs taken with a hidden camera in the bathroom of the Baba’s Ashram in Kendrapara. Later, another woman filed a case at a police station in Cuttack city on behalf of the girl citing threat to life.

The girl has not yet filed any complaint of sexual harassment against the Baba or his men.