Demanding strong action against Sarathi Baba, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra on Friday alleged that the Sarathi Ashram in Kendrapada district was used as political control room of the ruling BJD.
Mohapatra told reporters here that some BJD leaders, including Ministers, had recommended to the State Government to make the Sarathi Ashram a tourism centre. He accused the Kendrapada police of collecting extortion money every month from Sarathi to give him protection.
The BJP leader said Satish Gajbhiye, former Kendrapada SP, was functioning as the chieftain of goons in the district. The way Gajbhiye’s forces attacked the public during a protest near the Sarathi Ashram confirmed that he was working as an agent of the fraud Baba, he said. Mohapatra said Gajbhiye was the mediator between Sarathi and chit fund accused Sagar Ray during a land deal finalised in Bhubaneswar.
“We know how the CBI interrogated Gajbhiye in connection with the chit fund scam. We also know how he was responsible for death of 23 jawans in Malkangiri,” said Mohapatra and demanded suspension of the SP immediately.
He urged the Crime Branch to freeze bank accounts of Sarathi and open the files in which the BJD leaders and Ministers had recommended to the Government for making the Ashram a tourism centre.