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Kerala astrologer in police custody
Santosh Madhavan is arrested in Kochi morning on charges of cheating a woman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2004.
Astrologer to the stars and controversial guru Swami Amritananthachaithanya alias Santosh Madhavan was arrested in Kochi on Tuesday morning on charges of cheating a woman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2004.
Madhavan, who was arrested at Aluva near Kochi, has been taken to an undisclosed destination for interrogation by top police officials, it was learnt.
An Interpol lookout notice had been issued against him and his accomplice for allegedly cheating a Keralite woman in the UAE of 400,000 dirhams (approx $108,000) in 2004.
Madhavan, who is in his early 30s, had appeared on TV channels to say that he was innocent.
Last week, the spotlight was back on the high profile godman when the woman sent an email complaint to police in Kochi.
The first head has already rolled with a deputy superintendent of police, who is believed to have shielded Madhavan and who played best man at his wedding, being asked to go on leave.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also stepped in with the party's youth wing saying that Madhavan was being shielded by the son of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
But Bineesh Kodiyeri denied the report and told the media: "I am going to take legal action against these baseless allegations that have been levelled against me."
Madhavan, who has been a popular astrologer in film circles, will appear in court for a a hearing of his bail application.
