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Sai Baba's Yajur Mandir looted by thieves: Cops

(File photo) Satya Sai Baba - DC
(File photo) Satya Sai Baba - DC

In a significant move, the Anantapur police altered the case of Rs 35 lakh cash seizure as theft, suggesting that thieves with the aid of the bigwigs had struck at Yajur Mandir, Satya Sai Baba personal residence at Prasanti Nilayam in Puttaparti, and made away with the money.

Police has added IPC Section 379 to the existing sections to the case, and is now suspecting that the thieves decamped with crores of worth of booty.

The Rayalaseema inspector-general of police, Mr Santosh Mehra, said, “It is confirmed that the cash is from Yajur Mandir. So we added the theft section of IPC 379.”

K Harish Ananda Shetty, a site engineer at Prashanti Nilayam, who was arrested with the cash, named Mr K. Sohan Shetty and driver Chandrasekhar, who in turn came out with the names of trust members Ratnakar and Srinivasan.

Mr Mehra confirmed: “The accused confessed the name of trust member as V. Srinivasan.”

Police said that the trust members, Mr R.J. Ratnakar, a relative of Satya Sai Baba, and Mr V. Srinivasan of WS Industries, Chennai, were avoiding coming to the police station to give their statement.

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Krish 27/06/2011 - 04:38pm

Yes, thieves! But those thieves are inside the organisation, posing as Trust members!

Kris 27/06/2011 - 04:22pm

Looks like there is no limit to the variations of the drama that is being enacted - yea, to save some and those who can wield power and those who have powerful political and other connections! This is what happens when a scam is investigated by those who themselves are scam-prone! CBI and SC would be the only option!

R gopalan 23/06/2011 - 09:06am

Why should such a large sum of cash be kept at Yajur Mandir. Why not deposit it at the trust and be accounted for? This is certainly going to raise questions on should the govt give exemptions to religious and charitable trusts going forward. They all should be made mandatory to file monthly returns of self-declaration of receipts when the income crosses a particular limit say 10 lakhs. Religious and charitable trusts cannot be rooms similar to Swiss accounts where bigwigs are allowed to park and withdraw at call their big sums. This should be applied to political parties also. Jago india!

G srinivas 22/06/2011 - 04:37pm

The need of the hour is Sai bhaktas who have experienced supreme love of Swami, who are very highly spiritual should be inducted to run the Sai Trust. They will help clear these small doubts and misunderstandings. The duty of Sai bhaktas is to indulge more and more in implementing the Sai teachings of Love All Serve All, Help Ever Hurt Never. But what is sad to note is those who do not believe in swami, those who have the deep hatred to Sai they will manipulate this things and try to harm the Sai Trust and its noble ventures. The governments both state and central should see that the trust in no way is mishandled by the politicians and non-Sai devotees. One thing is sure, the evil campaigns against the trust will never last, the divine Sai truth will destroy it.

PRATAP 22/06/2011 - 10:18am

We are worried and feel ashamed of what is happening since March till now around Satya Sai Baba. We feel very sad to write this. We should realise what Satya Sai Baba would be feeling now even if he is not physically present. Someone saying that my life is in threat while someone is making allegations against the trust and so on. The trust should handle the situation efficiently and solve the case without tarnishing the good image of Satya Sai Baba and his trust. Money would come in abundance. There is hardly any reason to fight for money or even wish for name and fame. All trust members should co-operate and co-operate with one another and before making any statements to the public think three times at least.

Nagamoney 22/06/2011 - 08:25am

What Prof Gavoor said three decads ago is proved after the demise of Sai, It is good he is no more to see how his disciples are running after his wealth. Now the family members and the trustees will take sword and stones to attack one another.

Jay Dinakar 22/06/2011 - 07:54am

It is unbelievable. How can the trust members do this? When swami was there, everything was so peaceful. When these people took over, everything is getting into a mess. If govt takes over, it will be still worse
We really do not know what the future of the ashram is going to be. We devotees are really worried now.

Mahesh 22/06/2011 - 08:17pm

Devotees don't need to worry. Even when it was 'peaceful', the chief of the scam organisation ensured that everything that is wrong is covered up nicely. The loot that was found in his bedroom should not leave any doubts whatsoever.