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Crime branch probe launched against Odisha godman

Bhubaneswar, Aug 6 (IANS) The Odisha crime branch on Thursday launched a probe against controversial self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba after a statewide outcry over his alleged affair with a woman.

"We will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations made against Sarathi Baba. A team will move to Kendrapada to initiate investigation on Friday," said crime branch Additional Director General (ADG) Bijay Kumar Sharma.

The investigation was launched after an order from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The self-proclaimed godman, who runs an ashram in Kendrapada district, had allegedly stepped into a hotel with his girlfriend in Hyderabad in July.

A news channel on Tuesday said that contrary to his spiritual and religious image, the godman during his stay had non-vegetarian dishes and liquor, according to the hotel invoice.

The TV channel expose claimed the godman and the woman spent three days in the four-star hotel, where the godman had presented his voter identity card as proof while checking in.

Protests against the godman have gained momentum in many parts of the state demanding his arrest.

However, the godman pleaded innocence.

"Some people have been linking me with women. This is totally false and baseless. They are making false allegations that I checked into a hotel in Hyderabad with a woman. I have no relationship with any woman," he said.