The Rander Police arrested a man posing
as an incarnation of Sai Baba from Adajan late on Thursday. The imposter indentified as
Omprakash Gupta was arrested from his a house near Parle Point after the police received a
complaint from his follower turned foe. Gupta also had another
office named Om Sai Darbar in Adajan and has been operating in
Surat for the last one year. A resident of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, Gupta used to call
himself an incarnation of Satya Sai Baba and con the people who came to him looking for
solutions to their numerous problems. Gupta claimed to have cure for all the ailments and
also help people further their business prospects, begetting children, etc.
Gupta would ask the devotees to register themselves by paying an initial deposit of Rs
1,500. Then he used to perform a puja according to the problem of the person.
With the puja was another instalment of Rs 1,500 charged. And then the final
installment of Rs 24,000 that had to be paid.
Apart from calling himself an incarnation of Satya Sai Baba, he also used to boast that
the most influential people of Surat were his followers. Gupta claimed that he helped
Dhiru Gajera win the closely contested election. Gupta also used names of the Municipal
Commsssioner, senior police officials calling them his disciples.
All this would have continued but for a scuffle with one of his disciple. A builder
from Adajan area (name withheld) who was also one of the devotees was asked to pay the
final installment of Rs 24,000 which he refused to pay. Failing which the imposter
threatened him with dire consequences.
The builder reported the matter immediately to Rander police station. Rander PI V D
Vanar arrested the imposter from his residence in Sarjan Society, Parle Point.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (West and Traffic) Dr K L N Rao says,He
used to float names of influential people and con people. Rao
adds,On Friday, Gupta was presented in the court and now he is in judicial
custody.