The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Police file case against self-styled godman

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Monday, May 12, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Police file case against self-styled godman

Law-breakers will not be spared: Home Minister

Says police probe has unearthed
many facts
Interpol should confirm identity of the accused

Kochi: A case has been registered against Swami Amrita Chaitanya, a self-styled godman, under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The police said his flat was raided on Saturday and a tiger skin and some land documents were seized.

Amrita Chaitanya alias Santhosh Madhavan was not in his flat when the raid was conducted. The police had to break open the lock for conducting the search and seizing the articles worth Rs.1.5 lakh and some porn CDs.

The police had searched his guesthouse in the city two days ago.

Meanwhile, Serafin Edwin, a Keralite women working in the Gulf whose money was allegedly swindled by Amrita Chaitanya said she would file a complaint with the Kerala Police shortly. Ms. Edwin told TV channels that Amrita Chaitanya and Santhosh Madhavan were one and the same and had cheated her of about Rs.45 lakh a few years back. — PTI

Probe on: Kodiyeri

Staff Reporter writes from Kozhikode: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said the police will take all steps within the legal limits against Santhosh Madhavan on whom the Interpol has issued a look-out notice.

Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Mr. Balakrishnan said the police were conducting an investigation into the allegations against Madhavan, who was also known as Amrita Chaithanya. (The allegations included cheating an NRI in Dubai). He said it was for the Interpol to confirm who was the real Santhosh Madhavan in the wake of doubts.

The Minister said the police had begun an investigation ever since a report about the person appeared in a weekly.

The police investigation had unearthed many facts. However, the police could not take a case based on allegations. The police charged cases based on complaints. That was why there was delay in charging case against Madhavan, he said. He made it clear that no person, including sanyasins, would be protected.

The police were free to take any step, including arrest, he said.

Raid on old-age home

Staff Reporter writes from Pathanamthitta: The police raided an old-age home run by a charitable mission at Puthuvayal, near Maroor in Adoor taluk, on Sunday afternoon following Intelligence reports of its links with Santhosh Madhavan alias Amrita Chaitanya against whom cheating charges have been levelled.

The raid was conducted by Adoor Dy.SP M.S. Najeeb and Circle Inspector S. Ajithkumar. According to the CI, the building that reportedly housed the old-age home was found locked and no occupants were found.

The raid party broke open the door and found two empty suitcases inside. The police also questioned the watchman of the old-age home, Soman.

The watchman told the police that the old-age home was opened in January 2007, and Santhosh Madhavan was also present at the inaugural function.

He said the home was run by one Ajithan and Radha who were now abroad, the police said.

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