Godman held, faces rape charge, denied bail

Tue, May 13 08:44 PM

Kochi, May 13 (PTI) Controversial Kerala godman Amrita Chaitanya faced charges of raping a minor girl in a flat as he was arrested today for allegedly cheating a NRI woman of Rs 45 lakh while a senior police official accused of having links with him was suspended. On a day of fast paced developments, Chaitanya alias Santosh Madhavan against whom Interpol had issued a look out notice in the cheating case was arrested near Vypeen here even as Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition.

The Kerala police had initially registered two cases against the Swami-- one on a complaint by an NRI woman from Kerala Serafin Edwin that he allegedly cheated her of Rs 45 lakh and another under the Wild Life Protection Act for possessing a tiger skin. IGP Vinson M Paul and Kochi Police Commissioner Manoj Abhraham told reporters that a third case of rape was registered against the godman today following a complaint by a 10th standard student of a city school, whose education was reportedly sponsored by him.

They said the "victim" approached the police this morning and gave a statement following which the case was registered. According to the girl, at least seven to eight other minor girls had also been raped by Madhavan, Abraham said.

Police said the girl had alleged that she was raped by Chaitanya in 2006 in his flat at Kadvanthara in the city. The accused did not deny the charges, Abraham claimed adding the godman had made pornographic CDs of his 'victims'.

Chaitanya was picked up for questioning this morning from nearby Vypeen. He was moving around in his car when he was arrested along with the driver.

Meanwhile in Thiruvananthapuram, DSP Sam Christie Daniel was suspended for alleged links with the godman following instructions from Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. PTI.

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