Police to issue notices to 2 key members of Sathya Sai Trust

21 Jun 2011, 2138 hrs IST ================================================

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 told PTI. "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). "We questioned Pradhan last night and this morning also. We will soon interrogate two others Sadashiv and Venkatesh, who are known to Harishnanda. We asked them to appear before the police, however, the duo who are presently out of Andhra Pradesh have sought for two day's time," the official said, adding if need be they would again interrogate Pradhan. Amidst allegations that the seized cash was reportedly being shifted from Yajur Mandir at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi to Bangalore, a group of 12 Sai Baba's devotees (in their representation to the police) had claimed that the money belonged to them and it was meant for the construction of Sai Baba's Maha Samadhi. The amount was recovered a day after Sai Baba's personal chamber Yajur Mandir was opened on Friday, with the disclosure that it contained 98 kg of gold, 307 kg of silver, apart from Rs 11.56 crore in cash. 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 tonight 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. ================================================ .timesnow.tv/Police-to-issue-notices-to-2-key-members-of-Sathya-Sai-Trust/articleshow/4376590.cms