Odisha godman case handed over to Crime Branch

The Odisha government on Tuesday handed over the probe of the Trahi Achyut Ashram case to the Crime Branch of the police to investigate into the allegations against Sura baba and his two sons.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered the probe to be conducted by the Crime Branch, sources in the Chief Minister Office (CMO).

This is the second Crime Branch inquiry ordered by the state government after the Sarathi Baba scandal. Recently, self-proclaimed godman Sarathi baba and his son have been arrested by the Crime Branch over financial irregularities.

Trahi Achyut Ashram (located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar) chief Sura Baba alias Surendranath Mishra and his two sons have already been arrested by Commissionerate Police on Monday. They were produced before a SDJM court seeking five-day remand on Tuesday.

Crime Branch sources said the investigating agency would probe the issue basing on three FIRs filed against the godman and his two sons at Balipatna police station.

The allegations of sexual exploitation of women, land grab, human sacrifice and money trail among others would be probed, said sources.

Several teams have been formed by the Crime Branch to investigate the matter.