Cuttack: Controversial godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Roul was finally released from Choudwar Circle Jail, here on Thursday.
Sarathi Baba was released after the Orissa High Court granted him bail on all the three cases registered against him. The High Court granted bail on the third case on Wednesday after concluding the hearing on July 17.
The court, while granting the bail against a bail bond of Rs. 2 lakh and two bailers, has directed the self-styled godman not to enter his ashram at Barimula in Kendrapada district and refrain from holding prayer meetings in public. It has also directed him not to influence witnesses and cooperate in the investigation.
Sarathi Baba was arrested by the Odisha crime branch police on August 8, 2015 from his Barimula ashram against charges of sexual and physical exploitation of women apart from cheating devotees.
Following his arrest a woman and her daughter had complained that Sarathi had exploited them both sexually and physically apart from defrauding them of their gold ornaments and money.
