Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), April 24 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Sunday said Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust will continue its work despite the death of its founder and chairman Sathya Sai Baba.

"The trust is in order. It will run in the same way as it is running now," the chief minister told reporters here a few hours after Baba's death.

The chief minister said he spoke to the trust members and they assured him that the trust's activities will continue "We believe that Sai Baba is still with us. Only his body has departed. We should continue his work and this is the greatest tribute we can pay to him," the chief minister said.

Reddy refused to answer any queries. His statement came amid reports of a rift among trust members and the allegations of diversion of funds.

With this, the chief minister has virtually denied reports that the government plans to take over the trust or there are any irregularities.

The trust, which runs several hospitals, educational institutions, drinking water projects and undertake other charitable works in India and abroad, is estimated to have movable and immovable assets of Rs.40,000 crore.

The trust members include former chief justice of India P.N. Bhagvati, former Indian Administrative Service officers K. Chakravarthi and S.V. Giri, chartered accountant turned entrepreneur Indulal Shah, Venu Srinivasan of TVS Motors and the Baba's nephew R.J. Ratnakar.