Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 8: Little did Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raula imagine that the image that he had so carefully constructed for himself over the years would come crashing down like a stack of cards in a matter of days.
Hailing from an ordinary family, Raula’s family moved from their native Ganjam district to Kendrapara after Sarathi’s father was transferred there. Raula disappeared from Kendrapara in 1985 after telling his friends that when he would return, he would come back as a godman. He kept his promise.
Sarathi returned after a gap of seven years in 1992, having transformed his image to that of a spiritual guru. He then purchased land in the district and set up a modest ashram on it, where he would conduct daily satsangs.
“His devotees began swelling after he began resorting to parlour tricks such as producing ‘bibhuti’ (holy ash) out of nowhere. The godman’s devotees included influential devotees including political leaders, IAS and senior police officers, industrialists and movie stars,” the source added.
Money began pouring in soon after. A trust set up in the name of the ashram and headed by Sarathi soon began raking in big donations, while the area of the ashram grew to over two acres. The godman himself began delivering his speeches from a decorated throne, while the ashram grew from a thatched hut to a large building.
The ashram then began dabbling in sale of audio CDs containing the godman’s speeches, books, and other merchandise, with revenues to the tune of several crores.
Things turned sour after a television channel leaked images of the godman wearing a T-shirt and jeans, and eating chicken at a hotel in Hyderabad. The channel also said Sarathi was staying with an MBBS student at the hotel.
Widespread protests began breaking out in the state, especially in Kendrapara – his base. Effigies of the godman were burnt while the state government soon ordered a Crime Branch inquiry.
CB sources said Sarathi has several disproportionate assets in several parts of the state including in Puri, Bhubaneswar and Balasore.
Sarathi now faces long jail time – probably up to ten years – according to Crime Branch ADG BK Sharma.