Sarathi Baba's ashram valued at Rs 4.48 crore

Kendrapara (Odisha): The sprawling Ashram founded by arrested self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raula in Odisha's Kendrapara district was officially evaluated at Rs 4.48 crore.

The ashram, stretched across 2.47 acres at Barimula, has a 3,760 sq feet double-storied main building and was evaluated at Rs 1.18 crore, while the cost of the three-storied guest house was estimated at Rs 94.33 lakh, Executive Engineer, R&B division, M M Khan said.

The library building was valued at Rs 70 lakh while the inquiry and reception counters of the ashram were assessed at Rs 17.05 lakh, he said.

The prayer halls with pipe and angle frame structures were valued at Rs 43 lakh. The compound wall of the ashram was of estimated value of Rs 28 lakh as per current market price.

Besides, the courtyard and parking space area with its concrete floor area was of estimated value of Rs 80 lakh, he said.

Major portions of the main building had ceramic tile and marble flooring. There were also decorative gypsum board ceilings in the main building, guest house and prayer halls.

Electrical installations were valued at Rs 5.17 lakh while nearly Rs 11 lakh were estimated to have been spent for putting in place sanitation and sewerage facility.

"The assessment was done on direction given to us by crime branch. The evaluators of Roads and Building Division here, however, could not assess the cost of the beautifully designed three-way structured Sarathi temple.

"The team of evaluators was not technically competent to assess the value of the temple. The engineers of state archaeology department were more knowledgeable to assess such temple structure. Movable assets traced at the assets were also not assessed by us," said Khan.

The ashram was replete with several structures of gods and goddesses. It had sculptures of animals like tiger, bear, turtles, crocodiles, monkeys, hippopotamus, peacock, deer, crocodile, swan and zebra.

It had four decorative gates for entry and exit to the ashram. The construction of such decorative gates was a costly affair. However, it could not be estimated on technical grounds, Khan said.