The Odisha government on Tuesday ordered a Crime Branch probe into alleged land grabbing and immoral activities of arrested self-styled godman Surendra Mishra, and his two sons.
The Crime Branch will conduct investigation into different cases registered against them in police stations here pertaining to allegations of sexual harassment, attack on persons belonging to Dalit community and land grabbing.
The investigating agency is likely to widen investigation on its own as to how the controversial godman amassed huge wealth, part of which has been spent in construction of splendid campus at Jhintisasan, on the outskirt of Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, Commissionerate Police secured three day remand of Mishra and his two sons. On Tuesday evening, the police searched their residence in the ashram campus. According to sources, the Crime Branch will take over investigation immediately.
Although formal complaints were not registered in any police stations, allegations of murder and human sacrifice linked with Mishra and his sons flew thick and fast during the day.
In the past two decades, Mishra, who used to make predictions on basis of an antique palm leaf manuscript, had made fortune estimated worth crores. Mishra lived a lavish life with a huge fan following. Former Prime Minister P. V. Narsimha Rao, former Odisha Chief Minister J. B. Patnaik, senior BJP and BJD leaders were said to have visited his ashram in the past.
Apart from palatial residential building, where Mishra and his family members were residing, a special room in a four-storeyed lodge on the campus was reserved for the former. Once a year, a decorated chariot carrying the controversial godman used to be taken out. Only girls and women were allowed to pull the chariot. A private security team was assigned to ensure that nobody came closer to Mishra. Besides, he used to enjoy sailing on a special boat floating in a big swimming pool in the premise.
Such was the influence of the godman that the Naveen Patnaik government had identified the ashram as a place of tourist interest in 2009. Prasad Harichandan, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, on Tuesday demanded that the State government must clarify circumstances under which government recognition was accorded to the ashram.
The godman had opened its branches on spacious land patches in almost all districts of Odisha. According to reports, branches also sprang up in other States, including one near Mumbai.
Several influential leaders from Congress, BJD and BJP are said to have visited his ashram in the past
