Bhubaneswar: Santosh Raul alias Sarathi baba, the self-styled godman on Thursday walked out of Choudwar jail after spending four years behind bars. Sarathi was earlier granted bail by Orissa High Court in connection with a case pertaining to harassment of a woman and her daughter at his Barimula Ashram in Kendrapara.
Sarathi was released after the bail orders were presented before Kendrapara SJDM court today. The High Court had granted bail to Sarathi on a surety of Rs 2 lakh and two bailers.
While granting bail, the High Court has imposed restriction on Sarathi's entry to Barimula Ashram and he has also been directed not to influence the witnesses in the case.
Sarathi cannot leave the State without the permission of the Kendrapara SJDM court or hold any public meetings.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sarathi was arrested in 2015.
At least three cases have been registered against Sarathi including a case for allegedly threatening a follower who is also a medical student, playing with the emotions of the devotees and harassing a woman and her daughter at Barimula Ashram.
Cases under Indian Penal Code-506, 420, 467, 468, 471, 321, 120 (b) and 34 have been registered against Sarathi who has been granted bail in two cases.