CB intensifies probe into Sarathi case

Bhubaneswar: Crime Branch has intensified its probe into Sarathi case and put the land deals of the self-styled godman into its scanner.

The State investigating agency has identified sale deeds of more than 50 lands owned by Sarathi. Source said the Crime Branch is probing to find out whether the lands were sold to Sarathi by the actual land owners willfully or under pressure. Whether the price of the lands were fixed below the market rates or not will also investigated, the source added.

The sleuths will also question the land owners who sold lands to Sarathi, his son Satyam and Satyam Charitable Trust.

Crime Branch ADG B.K. Sharma said the matter is very complex and the investigating agency may take more time to unveil the truth.

Four cases have been registered against Sarathi so far.

Meanwhile, photographs of Manjulata Swain, the arrested woman who filed an FIR on behalf of the young woman involved in sexual escapades of Sarathi, with some politicians has created a buzz among public.

As per the photographs, Manjulata was seen with Union minister Jual Oram and BJD MLA Amar Satapathy in a programme of a sevashram at Taranjia under Badachana police limits.

The State investigating agency has already started interrogating Manjulata.