The Andhra Pradesh government has asked the Sathya Sai Baba Trust to explain if cash is being smuggled out of the chambers used by the religious and spiritual leader while he was alive and has asked for a factual report from the Trust.
On June 17, close to 12 crores in cash were found in Yajur Mandir, which was Sai Baba's private chamber at his ashram in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. 98 kilos of gold and 307 kilos of silver were also found. At that time, Trustees said the cash was being counted in the presence of income tax officials and was being deposited in the State Bank of India.
The Trust enjoys several exemptions from the state government and there are now demands that the government must withdraw those privileges and intervene on behalf of the devotees.
On Sunday, police in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district seized Rs 35.5 lakh from a car belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust and arrested one person identified as Harishnanda Shetty. A trust official V Srinivasan was believed to have given him the money.
A police officer had said the arrested person would be taken to Puttaparthi for investigations.
Earlier this week, Sai Baba's grand-niece Chetna Raju 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.
Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh police said Sathya Sai Baba's nephew R J Ratnakar and V Srinivasan will be questioned in connection with the seizure of Rs 35.5 lakh from Puttaparthi. Notices were issued to Ratnakar and Srinivasan asking them to appear before the Investigating Officer probing the case, within three days.