Woman elated after conman traced
By Riyasbabu and T.K. Devasia
12 May 2008
DUBAI & TRIVANDRUM — A Dubai-based Indian woman yesterday said she was elated as the police in Kerala traced a man who had cheated her of Dh400,000 by offering to buy her a hotel in Dubai.
Cerafin Edwin, a long-time Dubai resident, was swindled by Santosh Madhavan, who posed as a ‘swami’ and offered to help her buy a hotel in Deira in 2002.
“It’s good news for me. I am in touch with the police in Kerala and if required, I will fly down soon,” she said.
“A friend of mine had introduced Santosh Madhavan to me saying that he was an astrologer and had supernatural powers. When I visited him he gave me a ring studded with stones. He convinced me later that he will help me buy a hotel in Deira,” she said.
“In 2002 December I paid Dh400,000 to him but he fled UAE with the money. A complaint was filed with the Dubai Police which later alerted the Interpol.”
Cerafin alleged that she received threatening calls from Kerala to withdraw the complaint. However, a confusion created by a Malayalam magazine about the identity of a gunrunner, whose name figures in the Interpol’s list of wanted criminals, resulted in the revival of my six-year-old financial fraud case, she said.
The magazine’s cover story last week stated that Santhosh Madhavan, who was wanted by the police in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts, was living in a new avatar as a ‘swami’ in the state’s commercial capital of Cochin.
Police enquiry revealed that Santhosh Madhavan who had turned Swami Amritachaitanya was not the gunrunner, but a fraudster wanted by the Dubai Police for cheating Cerafin Edwin of Dh400,000 in 2002.
The police could not arrest him as there was neither any specific directive from the Interpol nor any complaint from the victim, said Inspector-General of Police Vinson Paul. He said that he would forward the details of their investigation to the Interpol for further action.
Meanwhile, the family members of the victim in Kerala said that Cerafin would herself lodge a complaint with the Kerala police. They said the complaint would be moved through her advocate within a couple of days.
The family members said Cerafin had not followed this course earlier as she had feared physical harm from the ‘swami’ and his henchmen. Madhavan had collected the amount for buying a hotel in her name. However, he vanished two days after receiving the money.
On his return to Kerala, he founded a trust called Shanthitheeram in his own name and built a palatial ashram in Cochin. The ashram is now used as a guest house to accommodate his clients, who include politicians, film stars, top officials and businessmen.
Born in a poor family in Idukki district, Santhosh Madhavan started as a temple priest and soon switched over to astrology and real estate business. Police who raided the guest house on Wednesday found documents regarding several land deals, some of them suspected to be benami.
The police also suspect that he is involved in hawala deals. Investigation into these aspects is on. The police are also looking into the involvement of one Saifudeen Alikanu (47), who had served as the driver of Santosh in Dubai, in the fraud.
A spiritual guru known as "Swami Amritachaitanya" is being held in Kerala, India on charges of fraud, rape and possession of narcotic drugs. Swami Amritachaitanya, whose real name is Santosh Madhavan, was arrested by Interpol in March on criminal charges in a police raid at his 16-suite ashram in Kochi, India following multiple police complaints against him. Indians living in Bahrain have recently come forward and filed a case against Madhavan in India on allegations of fraudulent practices related to his supposed charity activities.

Kochi, India 
Twenty Indians living in Bahrain filed a case against 35-year old Madhavan on Tuesday. They claim they were victims of a scam after Madhavan convinced them to invest in a charitable organization and tourist resort, but allegedly kept the money for himself. Madhavan arrived in Bahrain in 2005.


"Twenty of us have e-mailed a complaint to the Inspector General and Commissioner of Ernakulam police as well as Kerala Home Minister," said complainant Jaya Kumar in a statement to the ''Gulf Daily News''. Ernakulam is a district in the state of Kerala in India. "He was very convincing about his charity activities as well as the resort," said Kumar, a purchasing officer at a company in Bahrain.

Police began an investigation into Madhavan in April after a woman filed a complaint alleging he had promised to start a business with her after a meeting in Dubai, but she said he disappeared after she gave him the money. Serafin Edwin traveled to the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, last week from her residence in Dubai, in order to give testimony against Madhavan. She was greeted at the international airport by police, and is under police protection due to concerns for her safety. Her family members told ''Khaleej Times'' that she feared physical harm from Madhavan or his henchmen. Interpol has been investigating Madhavan in allegations related to his business dealings with Serafin Edwin since 2004. "I am happy that the police finally caught up with him and he is in prison. He is a big fraud and everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie," said Serafin Edwin in a statement to the United Arab Emirates paper ''The National''.

Madhavan was arrested by Interpol police after multiple underage girls went to law enforcement with allegations of rape and sexual abuse. According to Press Trust of India, police in India received complaints from three underage girls alleging he had raped them. ''The Times'' reported that Madhavan is accused of making pornographic movies with underage girls, sexual assault, rape, fraud and possession of narcotics. A police raid of Madhavan's four-story mansion in India uncovered drugs, a police uniform, a pelt from an endangered tiger and pornographic DVDs. ''Gulf Daily News'' reported that Madhavan was arrested in Kerala in conjunction with an Interpol "red alert", which was issued after consultation with Dubai police in 2004.


Self styled "godmen" and "gurus" are under increased observation by police in India following the arrest of Madhavan, and police are specifically investigating their sources of wealth and possible fraud. "We are not against genuine spiritual leaders. But we won’t allow illegal activities under the guise of spirituality," said Kerala home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in a statement to Howrah News Service. 

G. Sudhakaran, Kerala's minister for temples, presented a different viewpoint in a statement to ''The Times''. "They’re conducting all kinds of criminal and material activities behind their spiritual exteriors. Ninety per cent of them are fake and criminals. There are so many swamis who have enlightened the hearts and minds of people, but these people are fakes with no idea about spirituality. They are only interested in women and money and muscle power," said Sudhakaran. Many Hindus were upset by Sudhakaran's words, as some devout Hindus consider swamis to be above the law and should not be criticized.