Self-styled godman booked for illegally fitting blue beacons on car

A Kerala-based self-styled godman has been booked for allegedly using blue beacons on his car, which are usually fitted on vehicles used by VIPs.

An offence was registered against Baba Swami Subramaniyam (55) under various sections of IPC including 420, 171, and MVA 190 (2), at Shirdi police station after his Safari was confiscated outside the gate of Saibaba temple in Shirdi on August 20 for want of permit to fit three blue lights on it, Sunita Thakare, Additional SP told PTI on Thursday.

A case was also registered against him for fixing a Anti-Corruption Committee Board with a government seal on the vehicle, police said. The car was spotted in the parking zone by Traffic Police Inspector Arvind Bhole, who inquired Baba about the blue beacons and the seal along with the documents in this connection.

Unable to get a satisfactory reply, the godman's car was taken to the police station and a case was made out. The vehicle was confiscated later. According to Swami's followers, he is the 'guru' of Opposition leader Eknath Khadse and Shiv Sena MP Bhausaheb Waghchoure.

When contacted, Swami told reporters that he was using the car with blue beacons and anti-corruption-committee board with the seal, since last six years and he got the permit for the same from a police officer in Kopargaon. The Swami is said to run an ashram at Kasali Phata near Kopargaon and many VIPs keep visiting the place.