Sarathi was protected by political leaders: Aide

Cuttack: Sarat Patra, one of the closest associates of Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raul, today said several political leaders, including MPs, MLAs and the ministers of the ruling party, frequently visited the ashram of Sarathi at Barimul to seek his blessings and provided protection to him.

“The fraud Baba was well protected by these leaders. Taking this opportunity, he had managed to amass huge properties,” Patra told media persons after a marathon five-hour interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials here.

Talking about his association with Sarathi, he said; “I was with him as I believed him to be a super human being. But later I came to know that he is a fraud. Can the people of Odisha ever worship a fraud?”

On the monetary transactions of the Baba, he said; "The temple was built with the money and materials donated by the devotees. But where are the crores of rupees the Satyam Charitable Trust had collected from the people? I have requested the ED officials to get the details of the money from the persons like Pradip Rout and Surendra Mallick, who were managing the Trust and the media on the self-styled godman's behalf.

About the withdrawal of Rs 20 lakh from the Trust account, Patra said it could be Debendra Raul, elder brother of Sarathi, who might have spent this amount in media management.

Apart from Patra, the ED officials also grilled Sarathi’s nephew Pravin Raul in connection with the purchase of a luxurious vehicle in his name.

“I have replied to each question the ED officials asked me,” he told media persons after the interrogation.