Puttaparthi traders demand state takeover of Sai trust (Lead)
June 25th, 2011 - 5:30 pm ICT by IANSPuttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), June 25 (IANS) As police intensified probe into the seizure of Rs.35 lakh from a car allegedly linked to the Sathya Sai trust, traders in this bustling pilgrim town in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district Saturday observed a shutdown to protest suspected irregularities committed by the trust members.
Shops and business establishments were voluntarily closed in the town as dozens of traders, holding placards and shouting slogans, took out a rally, demanding the state government take over the Sathya Sai Central Trust in view of the serious charges of financial misappropriation against its members.
Anger is sweeping the business community in the town over the reported acts of omission and commission by the trust.
Trust member and late Sathya Sai Baba’s nephew R.J. Ratnakar is to appear before police later in the day while another member, V. Srinivasan, is likely to be quizzed Monday.
The police issued notices to two of the trust members after three people arrested with Rs.35.5 lakh on July 19 revealed they were transporting the cash from Puttaparthi to Bangalore on the instruction of the trust members.
Worried over the impact the controversies may have on their business, traders are demanding that the government take over the trust, which manages the vast empire of the late Sai Baba who had millions of followers all over the world.
The devotees, including the business community in Puttaparthi, want an administrative body on the lines of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) to run the empire.
Taking a serious note of the goings-on, the state government on June 22 sought a detailed report from the trust on its activities, its future programmes, assets and financial matters.
The government is also considering withdrawal of several exemptions enjoyed by the trust under the Endowment Act for last 35 years.
The trust, which runs educational and healthcare facilities in Puttaparthi, other parts of Anantapur, Bangalore and schools in various countries, has been facing series of allegations after the demise of Sathya Sai Baba April 24.
- Sai trust member quizzed by police for five hours (Second Lead) - Jun 25, 2011
- Puttaparthi observes shutdown against Sathaya Sai trust - Jun 25, 2011
- Sathya Sai Trust issued notice, cops grill another member - Jun 27, 2011
- Police question security officer of Sai Baba's ashram (Lead) - Jun 21, 2011
- Sathya Sai trustee seeks time for police questioning - Jun 23, 2011
- Police seize Rs.35 lakh from Sai trust's car - Jun 19, 2011
- Seized cash not ours: Sai trust (Lead) - Jun 20, 2011
- Three get bail in Sathya Sai cash case - Jun 24, 2011
- Man held with Sathya Sai trust cash sent to custody - Jun 20, 2011
- Sathya Sai trust yet to submit report to government - Jul 05, 2011
- Sai Baba's birth anniversary celebrations begin - Nov 18, 2011
- 98 kg gold, Rs.12 crore cash found in Sathya Sai Baba's chamber - Jun 17, 2011
- Sai Baba's death leaves question mark on Rs.40,000 crore empire - Apr 24, 2011
- Sathya Sai trust submits report to Andhra government - Jul 11, 2011
- Sathya Sai Trust defers selection of new chairman - May 01, 2011
Tags: administrative body, anantapur district, andhra pradesh, business establishments, business traders, central trust, devotees, financial matters, healthcare facilities, irregularities, lakh, misappropriation, quizzed, sathya sai, srinivasan, state takeover, tirupati devasthanam, trust member, trust members, ttd