The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday issued an ultimatum to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, the administrative body that manages the Rs 40,000 crore empire of the late spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba. The Trust has been asked to furnish information on its activities, revenues and assets within 10 days.
"In the light of the doubts expressed on certain aspects of the functioning of the Trust, it was felt that it was essential to bring out the facts transparently for public knowledge," said a government press release.
Trust secretary K Chakravarthi, a former IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, was asked to provide details about the late spiritual guru's vast empire — the Trust's organisational set up, list of members, their addresses, background, contact numbers and other relevant details, senior officials said.
The government also wants details on the Trust's fixed assets, major sources of funds, broad expenditure heads and annual accounts for the last five years.
Chakravarthi could not be reached for his reactions on the government move.
The development comes two months after the demise of the spiritual guru on April 24. The trust has been facing a series of allegations since his death.The seizure of Rs 35.5 lakh — that was being transported out of the Prashanti Nilayam Ashram — on June 19 prompted the state government to intervene.
{{/usCountry}}The development comes two months after the demise of the spiritual guru on April 24. The trust has been facing a series of allegations since his death.The seizure of Rs 35.5 lakh — that was being transported out of the Prashanti Nilayam Ashram — on June 19 prompted the state government to intervene.
{{/usCountry}}The driver of the car, Shekhar, told police that two Trust members, RJ Ratnakar and V Srinivasan, had directed him to take the cash to Bangalore.
While the police interrogated Ratnakar, who is Sai Baba's nephew, on Saturday, Srinivasan was grilled in Puttaparthi town on Monday.
Srinivasan met Trust officials before proceeding to the Sathya Sai deemed university building, where the policemen were waiting for him. The questioning lasted more than six hours.