Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh:
The country was shocked when an inventory of 98 kg gold, 307 kg silver and Rs 11.56 crore in cash was found in Yajur Mandir, the personal quarters of Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi. However, with reports that a lot more has been siphoned out of the place, the Sathya Sai Trust members are in a tight spot.
Reports of serious differences between Sai baba's family members and those manning the Sathya Sai Central Trust have also come to the fore. Sai Baba's grand-niece Chetana Raju has claimed that there is a threat to her life as she is questioning the actions of those managing the Sathya Sai Central Trust.
"Since the person caught claims that the money was given by a Trust member, V Srinivasan, we are demanding that there should be a proper inquiry into all this," Chetna told NDTV.
Over Rs 35 lakh was recovered from a private vehicle travelling from Puttaparthi to Bangalore on Saturday.
Police are trying to trace the cash to its owner as the men caught with the money were only "cash transporters."
Kolar Krishna, the Deputy SP of Hindupur, where the vehicle carrying the cash was caught said: "This cash is from the Trust, the ashram. We have to find out whether it belongs to a particular individual."
Notices have reportedly been issued to the Trust members to explain the unaccounted money.
Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh are demanding action from the state government to check the siphoning of funds and protect the interest of the devotees of Sathya Sai Baba.