In a startling revelation that could bring more trouble for arrested Santosh Roul alias Sarathi Baba, a newly-married woman on Tuesday alleged that she is being tortured by her husband as she refused to get 'closer' to the godman.
The woman lodged an FIR at the Nikirai police station in this regard alleging that on the fourth day of their marriage in January this year, her husband took her to the Barimula ashram to get the blessings of Sarathi.
"Baba gave me a saree and sankhas (bangles). After that my husband went outside leaving me inside the room alone and asking me to stay there for some time. After a few minutes Baba's associates insisted that I must go inside the Baba's chamber to get his blessings," the woman told reporters after recording her statement at the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court under Section 164 of CrPC.
She stated that when the associates insisted I phoned my husband. After arriving he too forced me to go inside the Baba's chamber for seeking wellbeing. But I protested and returned home, she added. "Since then my husband has been physically and mentally torturing me," added the woman.
She alleged that though I had made a written complaint earlier, it was not accepted.
Meanwhile, another woman 'Jani' close to the Baba has gone underground.
Sources said Jani along with another woman Barsa used to attract several young women to visit the ashram by narrating them the divine powers of the Baba.
The investigating agency on Sunday came to know about Jani who used to visit the ashram with her relative in the late night hours.
Meanwhile, the three-member team of the Crime Branch which arrived in Hyderabad to establish the truth whether the godman stayed at Golkonda Hotel or not, the State investigating agency started its investigation on Tuesday by examining the captured CCTV footages at the hotel.