Andhra govt to investigate Sai Baba trust finances

Hyderabad, Jun 23: The Andra Pradesh government have decided to demand a report from the Sathya Sai Central Trust at Puttaparthi on all financial matters after Rs 35 lakh were found in a car belonging to the trust on the state's border with Karnataka.

Also an explanation has been demanded from the trust on whether any financial irregularities took place following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday, Jun 22.

According to Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Andhra Minister for Information Technology & Communications and Endowments,"The Chief Minister called for a high-level meeting yesterday evening along with the Chief Secretary and Inspector General Intelligence to discuss the matter. We all know the trust has been doing great work but in light of the recent developments, since the government cannot remain a mute spectator, we have asked the trust to submit a factual report to the government on the happening in the trust and the financial matters. We just want to coordinate and we have no other interest. Let the report come and then we can see what action is to be taken".

On Wednesday, Jun 22 the Andhra court had issued legal notices against two Sathya Sai Central Trust members, in connection with the huge cash seizure that was allegedly being siphoned off from Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of late Sathya Sai Baba.

The accused members are Ratnakar Raju, grand nephew of Sai Baba and Venu Srinivasan who is a member of the Sathya Sai Central Trust.

OneIndia News