Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1: The state government today ordered a crime branch probe into the activities of Surendra Mishra alias Sura baba, who was arrested along with his two sons yesterday on a slew of charges, including molestation and possession of firearms.

Sources in the crime branch said four teams would be constituted to investigate the case. Allegations of sexual exploitation of women, land grab and fund sources of Sura would be investigated.

Police today searched Sura’s house at the ashram and found Rs 3 lakh in cash, gold ornaments, a laptop and one pen drive. The search was still on when this report was filed. 

Earlier, the police had found two air guns and three live bullets from the house. 

The court of judicial magistrate first class this afternoon allowed the police to take Sura and his two sons on three-day remand for further interrogation. The police had pleaded for a five-day remand. 

“We will continue our interrogation till the order for crime branch probe reaches us,” said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

While the police had registered three cases against Sura yesterday, today it registered another one in which a woman has alleged that Sura created differences between her husband and her.

The cops also recorded the statement of another woman today, who has lodged a case of molestation against Sura. The woman met police commissioner R.P. Sharma and demanded security.

Complaints continued to pour in against the 65-year-old self-proclaimed spiritual leader since his arrest. One Pramod Mishra from Phulbani today said Sura had murdered his brother in 2003. 

“My brother Pratap’s body was found near a computer institute, which was being run by the baba’s son at Rajmahal. The day before, my brother had been called to the ashram by Sura and his sons,” said Mishra.

In a related development, the Congress today questioned the state government’s decision to bestow the status of a place of tourist interest to Sura’s Trahi Achyuta ashram. 

It demanded that the status be withdrawn immediately. 

“It is sad that the tourism department has bestowed the status of place of tourist interest on the ashram, which had turned into a centre of vice. The government must withdraw the status,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan.