TRIVANDRUM — After week-long drama events, the controversial guru Santhosh Madhavan alias Amrutha Chaithanya, was yesterday arrested in Kerala and charged with three offences. Interpol had issued a look-out notice against Santhosh for allegedly swindling about Dh400,000 from a Dubai based Keralite woman.
The conman was picked up from Vypin near Cochin while travelling in a Lancer car yesterday morning. His driver Thomas was also taken into custody. He was interrogated by Inspector-General of Police Vinson M. Paul and Cochin Police commissioner Manoj Abraham interrogated him.
Apart from financial fraud, the police have also registered a case of rape against the self-styled ‘swami’ on the basis of a complaint lodged by a 15-year-old girl from Kadavanthra in Cochin city yesterday morning. He has also been charged with producing pornographic films.
The Cochin police commissioner told reporters that Santhosh had admitted that he had cheated the Dubai-based Non-Resident Indian woman, Cerafin Edwin. However, he contested the amount mentioned by the complainant.
Cerafin had alleged that Santhosh had collected Dh400,000, promising a partnership in a hotel project. Manoj Abraham said that the police had received information that the fake ‘swami’ had raped at least five minor girls.
He had allegedly used some of these girls for producing pornographic materials. A large number pornographic films were also recovered. "We have seized some of the CDs and find out whether any of these girls had figured in them", Manoj said.
The senior police official said that two cases police had registered against him in connection with the seizure of tiger skin and sandalwood from his flat last week have been transferred to the forest department.
Santhosh had moved an application for anticipatory bail with the high court. However, the application became infructuous following his arrest. The police commissioner said Santhosh would be presented before a magistrate today.
Meanwhile, Aleppey Deputy Superintendent of Police Sam Christy Daniel, who had served as an aide of the controversial ‘swami’, has been suspended from service by additional chief secretary K.J. Mathew.
The suspension came on a direction from Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who was told by Director General of Police Raman Srivasthava that Christy's misdeeds had brought ill repute to the entire police force.
In his report, the DGP said that Sam had organised the second marriage of the godman with a woman at Palghat.
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The conman was picked up from Vypin near Cochin while travelling in a Lancer car yesterday morning. His driver Thomas was also taken into custody. He was interrogated by Inspector-General of Police Vinson M. Paul and Cochin Police commissioner Manoj Abraham interrogated him.
Apart from financial fraud, the police have also registered a case of rape against the self-styled ‘swami’ on the basis of a complaint lodged by a 15-year-old girl from Kadavanthra in Cochin city yesterday morning. He has also been charged with producing pornographic films.
The Cochin police commissioner told reporters that Santhosh had admitted that he had cheated the Dubai-based Non-Resident Indian woman, Cerafin Edwin. However, he contested the amount mentioned by the complainant.
Cerafin had alleged that Santhosh had collected Dh400,000, promising a partnership in a hotel project. Manoj Abraham said that the police had received information that the fake ‘swami’ had raped at least five minor girls.
He had allegedly used some of these girls for producing pornographic materials. A large number pornographic films were also recovered. "We have seized some of the CDs and find out whether any of these girls had figured in them", Manoj said.
The senior police official said that two cases police had registered against him in connection with the seizure of tiger skin and sandalwood from his flat last week have been transferred to the forest department.
Santhosh had moved an application for anticipatory bail with the high court. However, the application became infructuous following his arrest. The police commissioner said Santhosh would be presented before a magistrate today.
Meanwhile, Aleppey Deputy Superintendent of Police Sam Christy Daniel, who had served as an aide of the controversial ‘swami’, has been suspended from service by additional chief secretary K.J. Mathew.
The suspension came on a direction from Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who was told by Director General of Police Raman Srivasthava that Christy's misdeeds had brought ill repute to the entire police force.
In his report, the DGP said that Sam had organised the second marriage of the godman with a woman at Palghat.
