Odisha self-proclaimed godman booked again for sexual harassment

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s controversial and self-proclaimed godman Sura Baba alias Surendranath Mishra has once again been booked over sexual harassment charges.

The complainant, a young woman of Belaguntha area in Ganjam district, has lodged an FIR at the Balipatna police station alleging that she was sexually harassed by Sura Baba at his Trahi Achyuta ashram at Jhintisasan on January 24.

She further alleged that her fiancé and his mother had taken her to the ashram on that day around 3 AM on the pretext of performing puja. The victim has also named the mother-son duo as accused in her FIR.

On the basis of the complaint, police have registered a case under Sections 341, 323, 354, 506 and 34 of the IPC.

Notably, Sura Baba was released from the Jharpada Special Jail here on December 2, 2017, two years after getting arrested 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 IPC and section 3(I)(x) of the ST and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.