Santosh Madhavan
{{Short description|Indian religious leader (1960–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Santosh Madhavan
| image = Santosh Madhavan.jpg
| caption = Madhavan, {{circa|2009}}
| other_names = Amritha Chaithanya
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|6|7|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|3|6|1960|6|7|df=yes}}
| death_place = Kochi, Kerala, India
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Godman
}}
Santosh Madhavan (7 June 1960 – 6 March 2024), also known as Amritha Chaithanya, was an Indian godman.
Biography
Madhavan had been wanted by Interpol since 2004 for fraud committed in the United Arab Emirates. A Dubai-based Indian woman, Serafin Edwin, accused him of cheating her of 400,000 dirhams in 2002. He was arrested near Cochin on May 18, 2008, for fraud.{{Cite web |title=Kerala: Controversial godman in custody |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2008/may/13god.htm |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.rediff.com}}
Madhavan was found guilty of pedophilia and producing pornography videos of him molesting underage girls at a children's home run by his trust, Santhitheeram.{{Cite web |title=SANTHOSH MADHAVAN @ SWAMI AMRITHA CHAITHANYA Vs. STATE |url=https://www.the-laws.com/Encyclopedia/browse/Case?caseId=113102391200&title=santhosh-madhavan-swami-amritha-chaithanya-vs-state |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.the-laws.com}}{{Cite web |date=2008-05-31 |title=The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : More charges against Santhosh Madhavan |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/19/stories/2008051956890400.htm |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=The Hindu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531201354/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/19/stories/2008051956890400.htm |archive-date=31 May 2008 }} While in police custody, he complained of chest pain and was admitted to a hospital.{{Cite web |date=2008-05-18 |title=The Hindu : Kerala / Thrissur News : Santhosh Madhavan admitted to hospital |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/17/stories/2008051757140400.htm |access-date=2024-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518095732/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/17/stories/2008051757140400.htm |archive-date=18 May 2008 }} In May 2009, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for molesting two underage girls.{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2009 |title=Santosh Madhavan sentenced to 16 years RI for raping minors |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200905201984.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724180327/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200905201984.htm |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |access-date=March 6, 2024 |work=The Hindu}}
Death
Madhavan was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi for a cardiac ailment, and died from heart disease on 6 March 2024, at the age of 63.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=വിവാദ 'ആൾദൈവം' സന്തോഷ് മാധവൻ ചികിത്സയിലിരിക്കെ മരിച്ചു; അന്ത്യം കൊച്ചിയിൽ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/crime/news/self-claimed-godman-santhosh-madhavan-dies-1.9383043 |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Godman Santhosh Madhavan, convicted of raping minors, dies in Kochi hospital |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/03/06/santhosh-madhavan-rape-convict-dies-in-hospital.html |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Onmanorama}}
References
External links
{{wikinews|Indian 'guru' faces charges of fraud, drugs and rape}}{{Rape in India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madhavan, Santosh}}
Category:Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Indian people convicted of rape
Category:Hindu religious leaders convicted of crimes
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