A designated special sessions court here will begin trial of the criminal case from January 6 next year against self-styled godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raul, who is booked in the case under several Sections of the IPC and Section 3 (2) (v) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The case pertains to an allegation made by a woman medico, who had complained before the police that she was apprehending threat to her life from Sarathi Baba and two women, namely Manju and Mili. Basing on the complaint, the Crime Branch in August last year had registered a case against Sarathi Baba and the two women.
Arrested since August last year, Sarathi Baba on Saturday was produced before the Cuttack Sadar Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court along with the other two accused. Since the magistrate court lacked the jurisdiction to hold trial in the case, it committed the case to be tried by the sessions court.
The same procedure was done earlier this year, but the Orissa High Court had set aside the SDJM Court’s order of cognisance on technical grounds and had directed to remit the case back to the magisterial court again seeking a fresh charge sheet from the prosecution.