Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Kendrapada, Aug 14:

While skeletons are tumbling out of the cupboard every day about the properties, bank accounts, sexual escapades and other sordid details of self-styled god man Srimad Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Kumar Roula since his arrest, a new twist has been added to the saga with a woman turning up and claiming to be the biological mother of Satyam, the so-called son of the Baba whom he had claimed to have created out of bibhuti (sacred ash).

Satyam Sekhar Raula Satyam Sekhar Raula

A woman with her face covered behind a veil appeared before the media and television crews on Thursday and claimed that she was the biological mother of Satyam and had given her son to Srimad Sarathi in adoption when he was two and a half years old.

She claimed that the adoption was duly registered then at the Sub Registrar's office here while adding that the registered document was with the Baba.

“The incident had taken place when the ashram had a thatched roof and Sarathi was staying in it. By that time, I had three children and was pregnant carrying the one you call Satyam today.  Sarathi had then asked my husband to give him the child which I was carrying in my womb on its birth to him for adoption. My husband asked me and I agreed to the proposal since we already had three children by then. Baba said "You have three; give this one to me. He will look after me in my old age." At that time we had deep respect for the Baba which we had maintained till date before his black deeds were revealed. We used to visit his ashram at Barimul then to listen to discourses given by him. I used to suffer from gout then, he had asked me to go for medical treatment and had said in the event of medicines not curing the disease, he would offer medicines. I with my husband used to visit the ashram and participate in bhajan and kirtan . When my son accompanied me to the ashram, Baba used to be very affectionate towards him. At that time, his parents used to stay along with him I never knew that he would turn out to be fraudster. I have never spoken to my son since we gave him in adoption. I would secretly watch him when we visited the ashram and would feel happy that he was growing up. We have given him in adoption after proper documentation at the Sub Registrar office. No we haven’t given him in adoption for money. My husband is a job holder and we run our lives. We have no dearth of money. We used to consider Baba as a saint with godly qualities. I have spoken to my son like a member of the public and would feel happy that he is well off. We used to visit the ashram once in five to six months. I thank the media for exposing such fraudsters who have played with sentiments of so many people while praying for my son’s safety. If my son has committed any wrong, he should be penalized in accordance with the law while saying that if he wishes she will take her back,” the woman told reporters.