Kochi: The Ernakulam Sessions court sentenced fake `Godman’ Swami Amritha Chaithanya alias Santosh Madhavan, for 16 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping two minor girls, here on Wednesday. He has to undergo imprisonment for eight years each in two separate case and the sentences will run separately. Other than that he has to pay a fine of Rs 2,20,000, in which Rs 2 lakh must be given for the girl who stood firmly against him till the last minute. Though his lawyer made a demand to no to send him to Kannur central jail owing to some political reasons, the court said that such demands cannot be considered this time, His driver, Thomas, was acquitted of charges in the case. On Tuesday Fifth Additional Sessions Court Judge Haripal found Madhavan guilty of raping the girls, who were from poor families, under Section 375 of IPC.

Madhavan alias Amritha Chaitanya’s troubles began after an NRI businesswoman, Serafin Edwin, filed a private complaint, alleging that he cheated her of Rs 45 lakh. Earlier, Interpol had also issued a lookout notice against him. A cheating case was then charged against him. To add to Madhavan’s woes, a young girl from Ernakulam alleged that she had been raped by him. Later, three minor girls, who were inmates of an orphanage he was running, also came out with similar complaints.

Madhavan was arrested on May 13, 2008 and has since been in police custody. He was denied bail by the High court and Supreme Court.Trial of the case began on March 16 this year with proceedings being conducted in-camera. Though four victims had complained of rape, three turned hostile. Police confiscated porn CDs and records of huge real estate investments in a search at his guest house and bank lockers. The prosecution urged the court to give maximum punishment as he had molested minor girls from poor families.
Source : mathrubhumi