Movement of Crores of Rupees from Puttaparthi Raises Eyebrows
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttapathi
Puttaparthi, Jun 20: Even as the news of the arrest of Udupi-based Qualis car driver Sadashiv Harishnanda Shetty spread around Puttaparthi, a large number of devotees and people from surrounding areas rushed to Puttaparthi ashram to find out the truth, and some perhaps, to see if they could get some share of the booty too.
The opening of Satya Sai Baba's personal chamber recently was the reason for the curiosity, though the amount declared was about 12 crore, some people believe the total sum could be more than what was declared.
Sadashiv Shetty's car was held at Bagepally toll-gate near Hindupur town, near Bangalore on Sunday, June 19. About Rs 35.5 lac of cash was found in his car, but Shetty insisted with the police that he was not aware of the cash. But there are also reports that he disclosed to the police that the cash belonged to one of the Sai Baba trustees and he was delivering it to the trustee's relative.
Another news that made the rounds was that of two buses which were stopped at Kottecheravu, Andhra Pradesh, with several jute bags full of currency worth crores.
The police, however, do not want to disclose any information to the media regarding this, it is learnt.
But later in the evening, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust member R J Ratnakar told reporters that the Trust had nothing to do with the cash. It belonged to 12 persons who are not associated with the Trust and they would approach the authorities and resolve the issue, he added.
It is surprising that the Andhra Pradesh government has not reacted despite the movement of crores of rupees from Puttaparthi Ashram.
It would be interesting to see whether the issue will get widspread publicity, or be buried with the 'help' of police.