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Odisha police arrest another godman, his two sons
Bhubaneswar: A self-styled godman and his two sons have been arrested following public outcry over his alleged wrong-doings and an FIR lodged by a social activist, police said on Monday.
Police arrested Surendranath Mishra and his sons from the controversial Trahi Achyut Ashram situated on the outskirts of state capital Bhubaneswar in the early hours of Monday. Police also reportedly seized two guns from the ashram.
On Sunday night, an irate mob barged into the ashram, set vehicles on fire, and burnt down houses and other assets in the premises.
“We are interrogating the trio from every possible angle, including financial irregularities, land encroachment, sheltering criminals and sexual harassment,” a senior police official said.
Odisha Police earlier arrested self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba on charge of financial irregularities and sexual escapades.
Odisha Samajika Nyaya Abhiyan president Jayanta Kumar Bhoi lodged a complaint at Balipatna police station to demand the arrest of the so-called godman and his two sons within 24 hours.
“If the government failed to act against the self-styled godman within the time stipulated in the complaint, hundreds of people will gherao the chief minister’s residence,” Bhoi warned.
He said the accused had taken illegal possession of many acres of land, a timber depot in Brahmeswar area, 14 trucks and many more buildings.
Meanwhile, state police deployed more personnel at the ashram to maintain law and order.
Commissioner of Police R.P. Sharma said: “Based on prima facie evidence gathered, prompt, transparent and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.”
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What monkey fled with a bag containing evidence in it: Read full story
The court, generally, considers a person who commit a crime and the one who destroys the evidence, as criminals in the eyes of law. But what if an animal destroys the evidence of a crime committed by a human.
In a peculiar incident in Rajasthan, a monkey fled away with the evidence collected by the police in a murder case. The stolen evidence included the murder weapon (a blood-stained knife).
The incident came to light when the police appeared before the court and they had to provide the evidence in the hearing.
The hearing was about the crime which took place in September 2016, in which a person named Shashikant Sharma died at a primary health center under Chandwaji police station. After the body was found, the deceased’s relatives blocked the Jaipur-Delhi highway, demanding an inquiry into the matter.
Following the investigation, the police had arrested Rahul Kandera and Mohanlal Kandera, residents of Chandwaji in relation to the murder. But, when the time came to produce the evidence related to the case, it was found that the police had no evidence with them because a monkey had stolen it from them.
In the court, the police said that the knife, which was the primary evidence, was also taken by the monkey. The cops informed that the evidence of the case was kept in a bag, which was being taken to the court.
The evidence bag contained the knife and 15 other important evidences. However, due to the lack of space in the malkhana, a bag full of evidence was kept under a tree, which led to the incident.