Kerala Online
May 23, 2009
http://keralaonline.com/news/santhosh-madhavan-brought-central-jail_46193.html
[with video]
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Thiruvananthapuram, Saturday 23 May 2009: The controversial godman Santhosh Madhavan, who has been convicted to 16 years of imprisonment for molesting young girls, has been shifted to the Poojappura Central Jail. He has been shifted following his request to the Court.
The self styled godman of Kerala, Santhosh Madhavan also known as Swami Amritha Chaitanya is all set to go behind bars after the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court has announced the quantum of sentence for him in connection with sexual molestation two minor girls.
Santhosh Madhavan has been given sixteen years imprisonment and has also been fined Rs 2 lakh by the court.
Though he has been awarded eight years imprisonment each in two cases, the Court has asked to undertake both the punishment together.
May 19, the Court had convicted Santhosh Madhavan in two molestation charges under section 375 of IPC.
The prosecution case was that he had lured the minor girls hailing from poor families, confined them and sexually exploited them. Of the six rape cases registered against him, he was acquitted in three as the victims turned hostile. He committed the rapes in January and March 2006. The court relied on the evidence given by the victims and circumstantial evidences while convicting him.
The court acquitted the second accused and driver of Santhosh Madhavan, Thomas. He was let off on the ground that the prosecution was not able to prove the charges levelled against him under Section 366 A (procuring minor girls) beyond reasonable doubt.
Santhosh Madhavan was arrested on May 13, 2008, on a complaint lodged by a Dubai-based Malayali woman. In her complaint, Serafin Edwin had alleged that she was cheated of Rs.40 lakh by Santhosh Madhavan.
The case relating to cheating was still pending before the court. The police had conducted searches at Santhitheeram, a guesthouse run by Santhosh Madhavan here, and seized various incriminating documents after registering the cheating case.
The investigation by the police had revealed his involvement in the harassment and rape of minor girls. The prosecutor contended that maximum punishment and penalty should be awarded to him.
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