Two Sathya Sai Baba aides to be questioned - Hindustan Times

Two aides of the late Sathya Sai Baba were directed on Wednesday to appear before the Anantapur superintendent of police for questioning on the recovery of Rs 85.5 lakh. The money reportedly belonged to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT), which the spiritual guru ran. Two rounds of seizure were made, on June 19 and 20, from Bangalore-bound vehicles. One of the vehicles used to transport cash belonged to the SSSCT.

The police said two SSSCT members, RJ Ratnakar, who is Sathya Sai Baba’s nephew, and V Srinivasan, had been notified for questioning in the next three days. The move follows the statement of an arrested person by the name H Shetty, who was carrying cash on June 19.

“We may call other trustees for questioning to trace the source of the money,” said a police officer.

The police have so far questioned about six employees of the Puttaparthi ashram. The six include chief security officer B Pradhan, who told the police he was not on duty in the evening of June 19, when cash was reportedly taken out of the ashram to be transported to Bangalore.

As part of the investigations into the cash trail of the trust, the police on Wednesday questioned Venkatesh (full name could not be ascertained), personal assistant of Srinivasan, and R Sadashivan, a close friend of Shetty.

Following the cash seizure, the government is under pressure for a thorough investigation.

The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has termed the goings-on in the trust “a big scam” and questioned why the state was going slow on enquiry.

Cash recovery: Police to issue notices to 2 key members of Sathya Sai Trust - Times of India

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Police is all set to issue notices to two key members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust, and question them in connection with the transportation of Rs 35.5 lakh cash in a vehicle from Puttaparthi town in Anantapur district to Bangalore.

Police have sought legal opinion in this regard and once they get it, they would move forward on issuing notices and to question the two trust members R J Ratnakar (who is nephew of late Sathya Sai Baba) and Venu Srinivasan, a senior police officer said.

"We cannot rule it (questioning the trust members) out. We are exploring the possibilities and are now seeking legal opinion. We are in the process (of questioning) towards that. Based on the legal opinion which will be known tomorrow... we will move ahead," said the official, who is supervising the investigations into the seizure of Rs 35.5 lakh from a vehicle allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust.

The four-wheeler, carrying Rs 35.5 lakh in cash, was confiscated during checking at Kodikonda checkpost under Chilamanthur police station limits bordering Karnataka on June 18.

Police so far have arrested three persons, including its driver Harishnanda Shetty, besides Venu Srinivasan's driver Chandrashekhar alias Shekhar and one engineer Sohanshetty in connection with the cash seizure.

As part of probe into the seizure of the cash, police interrogated Pradhan, the chief security officer of 'Yajur Mandir' -- the private chamber of Sai Baba.

Police were also in the process of questioning two more persons who were identified as Sadashiv and Venkatesh (a personal assistant of Srinivasan).

Meanwhile, in the wake of trust member V Srinivasan's name making rounds in the case, TVS Motor Company clarified that 'V Srinivasan', being referred in sections of the press, is wrongly being quoted as the chairman of TVS Motor Company - Venu Srinivasan.

A statement issued on Tuesday night said "Several reports have appeared across sections of the press with regard to irregularities in the 'Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust' alleging the involvement of Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of TVS Motor Company."

"TVS Motor Company hereby clarifies that the said V Srinivasan, being referred to in sections of the press, is wrongly being quoted as the Chairman of TVS Motor Company, Venu Srinivasan."

This is "factually incorrect as Venu Srinivasan is not a trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust," the statement added.