SC rejects Odisha godman Sarathi Baba’s bail plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today rejected the bail plea of self-proclaimed Odisha godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Roul in a case pertaining to alleged sexual exploitation of a woman and her daughter at his ashram situated in Barimul in Kendrapara district.

A two-member division bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi rejected Sarathi’s bail plea.

Earlier too the Supreme Court had rejected his bail application in the same matter.

Notably, Sarathi Baba was arrested by the Crime Branch on August 8, 2015 from his Barimula ashram against charges of sexual and physical exploitation of women apart from cheating devotees.

Following his arrest a woman and her daughter had complained that Sarathi had exploited them both sexually and physically apart from defrauding them of their gold ornaments and money.

Sarathi Baba is presently lodged at the Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack district.