Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 1: The state government Tuesday directed the crime branch (CB) to probe the allegations against Trahi Achyuta ashram chief Surendra Mishra alias Sura Baba and his two sons Trilochan and Biranchi, who were arrested August 31 by the commissionerate police under various sections.
Sources said the CB has formed three teams to probe the allegations against the three who were earlier arrested under sections 341, 342, 506, 354, 509, SC/ST Atrocities Act, Arms Act, among others. They added that the agency officials will likely find out more leads in connection with the case.
Surendra is the second controversial self-proclaimed godman after Kendrapara’s Santosh Raula alias Sarathi Baba to face the sleuths of the agency.
After the government asked the agency to probe the matter, CB IGP Arun Bothra met twin cities police commissioner Rajendra Prasad Sharma at the commissionerate police office here and discussed the matter.
Meanwhile, complaints against Sura Baba and his two sons kept pouring in at the commissionerate police office here.
A native of Phulbani Tuesday met Sharma and alleged that his younger brother was killed by Trilochan in 2003.
Pramod Kumar Mishra of Phulbani alleged that his younger brother Pratap Kumar Mishra was working at a computer institute in Sahid Nagar area (plot number- A/100), which was reportedly set up by Trilochan.
“Pratap knew Trilochan and his family since 1997. Pratap also used to go to Trahi ashram in Jhinti Sasan. After a few years Trilochan asked Pratap to give him Rs 80, 000 on the pretext of providing him more facilities. Pratap came to Phulbani and collected the money. However, a day after he handed over the money to Trilochan, his body was found hanging in the institute. Pratap didn’t commit suicide, he was killed by Trilochan and his family members,” Pramod alleged.
“At that time we were aware of Sura Baba’s clout. Fearing for dire consequences, we didn’t lodge a complaint against them,” he said.
Reacting to the fresh allegations, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said they have asked Pramod to lodge a written complaint with them and they have to examine the report and the witnesses before commenting on the matter.
A U/D case in this regard had been registered in Sahid Nagar police station in 2003, he informed.
In another development, a woman who had alleged that Sura Baba and his sons had sexually harassed her a few years back, Tuesday met Sharma and urged him to safely evacuate the stranded women devotees from the Trahi ashram here.She was accompanied by woman activist Namita Pal.
A few other women activists also met the police commissioner Tuesday and urged him to set up a facilitation centre for women here.