Kochi, March 6, 2024: Santhosh Madhavan, a controversial figure who claimed to be a godman, passed away today while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. He was 54.
Madhavan, who donned the saffron robes and styled himself as Swami Amrithachaitanya, ran an ashram called ‘Shanthiteeram’. He was embroiled in numerous fraud cases and had been arrested multiple times.
His fraudulent activities came to light in 2008 when a Dubai businesswoman, Seraphin Edwin, filed a complaint against him for allegedly cheating her of Rs 40 lakhs. Following a police investigation based on the complaint, Madhavan was arrested.
Born into a poor family in Kattappana, Madhavan had a humble beginning. He studied up to class 10 at the Government High School in Kattappana and later left home. He eventually found his way to the Maradu Thuruthi Temple in Ernakulam, where he worked as a ‘santikkaran’ (temple assistant). This marked a turning point in his life.
Here is a timeline of some of the controversies surrounding Santhosh Madhavan:
- 2008: Seraphin Edwin, a Dubai businesswoman, accuses Madhavan of cheating her of Rs 40 lakhs.
- 2012: Madhavan is arrested for allegedly raping a woman in his ashram.
- 2013: He is arrested again for duping a woman of Rs 2 lakhs.
- 2015: Madhavan is accused of amassing wealth illegally and living a lavish lifestyle.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
