Puttaparthi shutsdown

As police intensified the probe into the seizure of Rs 35 lakh from a car allegedly linked to the Sathya Sai trust

Puttaparthi shutsdown

As police intensified the probe into the seizure of Rs 35 lakh from a car allegedly linked to the Sathya Sai trust, traders in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district observed a shutdown on Saturday to protest suspected irregularities committed by the trust members.

As serious charges of financial misappropriation by the trust members surfaced once again, anger swept the business community in the pilgrim town. Business establishments voluntarily remained closed as dozens of traders, holding placards and shouting slogans, took out a rally demanding that the state government take over the Sathya Sai Central Trust.

Pic/ AFP

Trust member and Sathya Sai Baba's nephew RJ Ratnakar was interrogated for over five hours by the police later on Saturday while another member, V Srinivasan, is likely to be quizzed on Monday.

The state police issued notices to two trust members after three people arrested with Rs 35 lakh on July 19 revealed they were transporting the cash from Puttaparthi to Bengaluru on the instruction of the trust members.

Worried over the impact the controversies may have on their business, traders are demanding that the government take over the trust.

Taking a serious note of the recent controversies, the state government on June 22 sought a detailed report from the trust on its activities, its future programmes, assets and financial matters.

The government is also considering the withdrawal of several exemptions enjoyed by the trust under the Endowment Act for last 35 years.