NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 11.4 crore of self-styled Guru Santosh Kumar Roul alias Sarathi Baba of Odisha for money laundering by cheating his disciples.
During the course of investigation, the statements of Roul along with his son, nephew and various other devotees/associates were recorded. The information relating to the details of properties was obtained from various state government agencies and also from various banks.
“On scrutiny of the documents, it was found Santosh Kumar Roul has laundered the ill-gotten money collected as donations from the gullible devotees and has invested the money in land and building held in the name of Satyam Charitable Trust, his son nephew and his close devotees/associates. He had opened bank accounts in the name of his son, nephew and close devotees/associates to project the ill-gotten money as untainted properties,” the agency said in a statement here on Friday.
Immovable assets worth Rs 9 crore and movable assets in the form of bank balance to the tune of Rs 2.4 was attached through an order issued on March 24, the agency said.
According to charge sheet filed by the Crime Branch of Odisha, Sarathi baba claimed himself to be God or incarnation of Lord Krishna having supernatural powers and induced people to become his devotees. On the pretext of serving the common and poor people he accepted costly donations of all kinds in cash, gold and silver. He used the substantial part of the donations received, for his own benefits or those of his family members in purchase of land, building and deposit in bank.
Roul is presently undergoing judicial custody and is lodged in Circle Jail, Chowdwar.