AP asks Sathya Sai Trust to furnish financials

The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday asked the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust to furnish details of all the financial transactions, returns filed with the income tax department along with the assets, and activities of the trust and organisations associated with it within ten days.

The move comes in the wake of a series of controversies regarding the alleged siphoning of cash and other valuables from Prasanthi Nilayam, where Sai Baba used to live.

Allegations over shifting of cash clandestinely by people associated with the trust grew bigger after a vehicle carrying Rs 35 lakh from Prasanthi Nilayam was seized by the state police some ten days ago.

These allegations, involving the names of trust members, started figuring in the local media after the trust members declared the details of cash, gold and other valuables found at Yajurveda Mandiram, private chamber of Sai Baba who died two months ago.

The two members under the scanner, Ratnakar, son of Sai Baba's brother Janaki Ramaiah, and W Srinivasan, a Chennai-based businessman, who were questioned by the local police after Rs 35 lakh was seized, have denied their involvement. The police, however, are still investigating the incident.

According to information, the Sathya Sai Central Trust is yet to open the main vault, supposedly located within the Yajurveda Mandiram. The trust members had, on June 17, declared assets, which include Rs 11.56 crore cash, 98 kg gold and silver artifacts worth 307 kg kept at Yajurveda Mandiram.

A senior official, who confirmed the government's move, said the authorities would take a view on the next course of action after examining the factual report and details of financial transactions to be furnished by the trust following Monday’s directions. “One immediate action, if the details and the explanation given by the trust is not found satisfactory, would be revocation of all exemptions given to the trust activities in the past,” the official said.

The officials, however, maintain that once the government starts asking for details it will not stop midway. “The government is only concerned with the proper functioning and conduct of the trust and no way inclined to take over the activities of the same that are spread across 140 countries,” the official said.