Another godman arrested in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha police on Monday arrested self-styled godman Sura Baba alias Surendra Mishra, head of Trahi Achyuta Ashram, and his two sons after an hour-long interrogation.

 

The police have slapped charges against the trio under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3(I)(x) of the ST and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This apart, charges under Section 25 of the Arms Act have also been slapped against Sura Baba after the recovery of two air guns and three 9 mm live cartridges from the ashram this morning.

 

Sura Baba is the second self-styled godman after Sarathi Baba to be arrested this month. On August 8, Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Kumar Raul was arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of women, illegal accumulation of wealth and cheating.

 

In another development, two women lodged FIRs against the Baba at Balipatna police station.

 

A woman named Jyotsna Rani Pradhan accused the Baba of sexual exploitation of women devotees while another lady Sabita Barik of Bhubaneswar charged him with driving a wedge between husband and wife. 

 

As per the complaint lodged by Ms Pradhan, she was subjected to physical and mental torture by the ashram inmates as per the direction of the Baba. She has named four associates of the Baba – Tuna, Papu, Aakhila and Saswat – and four women associates – Binapani Ghadei, Dipti Mihanty, Jyotsna Swain and Jyotsna Mohanty.