Kochi: Controversial Kerala godman Amrita Chaitanya, arrested for allegedly cheating a NRI woman of Rs 45 lakh, was today remanded to five days police custody.

Amrita Chaitanya alias Santosh Madhavan, against whom Interpol had issued a look out notice in the cheating case, was produced before Magistrate K S Saratchandran, who remanded him to police custody till May 19.

Chaitanya was arrested yesterday from nearby Vypeen hours before his anticipatory bail petition was to come up before the Kerala High Court.

Rejecting the bail petition, the Court asked him to a move a regular petition before an appropriate court.

Police had initially registered two cases against Chaitanya, one on a complaint by a NRI woman from Kerala Sarafin Edwin that he allegedly cheated her of Rs 45 lakh and another under the Wild Life Protection Act for possessing a tiger skin.

A third case of rape was registered against him following a complaint by a 10th standard student of city school, whose education was reportedly sponsored by him.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sam Christie Daniel was suspended yesterday for his alleged links with the godman.

Source : PTI