Sathya Sai Central Trust: Police Notice to Two Members
posted on Jun 22, 2011 @ 12:16PM
The Police has issued legal notices to two key members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust in connection with seizure of huge cash that was allegedly being diverted from Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of late Sathya Sai Baba.
The members who got legal notices are Ratnakar Raju who is the grand nephew of Sai Baba and Venu Srinivasan who is a member of the Sathya Sai Central Trust. The Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday demanded that the two members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust be arrested immediately.
The main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh also demanded an inquiry by a Supreme Court judge in the diversion of treasure from Puttaparthi and the involvement of some political leaders. The TDP into pointed out that there were doubts in the minds of devotees about involvement of a state minister and the son of a Union minister in the illegal diversion of Trust funds.
A car, allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust, carrying Rs 35.5 lakh in cash, was confiscated during checking at Kodikonda check post under Chilamanthur Police Station limits bordering Karnataka on June 18. Police suspect the money was being transferred from Puttaparthi where Sai Baba's personal wealth is being audited. Police had already arrested three persons, including its driver Harishnanda Shetty, besides Venu Srinivasan's driver Chandrashekhar alias Shekhar and one engineer Sohan Shetty in connection with the cash seizure.
Amidst allegations that the seized cash was reportedly being shifted from Yajur Mandir at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi to Bangalore, a group of 12 Sai Baba's devotees in a representation to police, claimed that the money belonged to them. It was meant for the construction of Sai Baba's Maha Samadhi and was being sent to Bangalore for purchasing marble.