Sathya Sai Trust defers meet as pressure mounts

PUTTAPARTHI: The Sathya Sai Central Trust meeting, scheduled to be held Friday, was postponed as except RJ Ratnakar and SV Giri, none of the other members was present in Puttaparthi. With trust member V Srinivasan seeking permission from the police to  give his statement on the recent cash seizures on Monday, the meeting is likely to be held some time thereafter. The police had issued notices to Ratnakar and Srinivasan seeking  their explanation on the Rs 35.5 lakh seized from Harish Nandasetty and Chandrasekhar. Citing different reasons, both had sought time. Ratnakar will be giving his statement in Penugonda on Monday.The police have also served a notice on Sai Trust secretary Chakravarthy seeking information pertaining to vehicle movements from Prashanti Nilayam since June 18. Puttaparthi in-charge CI Madhubushan handed over the notice to Chakravarthy who agreed to provide the details. Chakravarthy later said in view of the allegations against the trust, it would be better for the members to brief the media.  In a related development, Hindupur Judicial First Class Magistrate Kamalakar Reddy sanctioned conditional bail to Harish Nandasetty, Sohan Setty and Chandrasekhar, arrested at  Kadikonda checkpost while transporting Rs 35.5 lakh of the trust to Bangalore.Satyajit refutes allegationsBreaking his silence for the first time after the samadhi of Sathya Sai Baba, his personal caretaker Satyajit on Friday refuted allegations that he had let down his spiritual guru. Speaking to reporters here, he termed as baseless allegations that he had not taken good care of Sai Baba when the latter was ill. Stating that he had been serving Baba for the past 15 years, he said, “I did whatever Baba asked me to and discharged the duties he gave me sincerely. I will continue to serve Baba.” Asked about allegations against the Sathya Sai Central Trust, he replied he was not the right person to answer the question. Dr Safaya on the way out?Director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences Dr AN Safaya, who reported to duty on Friday after a month-long leave, had sent a letter to the Sai Trust requesting it to relieve him of his duties, sources said. There are reports that cardiologist Dr K Das and Joint Director Jagadeesh Chandra, are also mulling resignation.