Gold removed on the sly from Sai Baba’s ashram?

Reports are trickling in about the alleged shifting of truckloads of gold and other precious jewellery from Puttaparthi to an unknown location, on the eve of Sathya Sai Baba's death

Gold removed on the sly from Sai Baba's ashram?

Reports are trickling in about the alleged shifting of truckloads of gold and other precious jewellery from Puttaparthi to an unknown location, on the eve of Sathya Sai Baba's death

While speculations are rife over the circumstances that led to Baba's death, reports have been coming in about the alleged unlawful shifting of truckloads of gold, from Puttaparthi to an unknown location, yesterday.

It is said that two tons of gold had been transported from Puttaparthi to an unknown location near Bangalore

The assets of the Sathya Sai Central Trust have been assessed to be worth Rs 40,000 crore. An unofficial estimate, however, indicates that the figure could be much higher, at an estimated Rs 1.3 lakh crore.

However, this figure does not take into account the massive quantities of gold and diamond jewellery accumulated in the Prashanthi Nilayam.

An insider in the Prashanti Nilayam said it was possible that a large amount of gold and jewellery had been shifted from its precincts. However, he refused to name anyone.

Following the media reports, Aravinda Rao, director general and inspector general of police (Andhra Pradesh), directed the police officials to investigate the veracity of the report. However, no further update could be obtained.

"Normally we don't check contents of vehicles departing from Prashanthi Nilayam, since they all have permits.u00a0 We have also heard of reports about the alleged shifting gold from Puttaparthi, and we are probing into it," he said.u00a0

An intelligence source revealed that custom officials had seized two briefcases containing jewels at Devanahalli Airport, but had allowed them to pass through, since proper documents were furnished. "Two persons from Puttaparthi were carrying it, and the police checked the papers before letting them go," said the source.

Devotees from all over the world send in donations in the form of cheques and demand drafts; many, however, prefer to make their donations in the form of gold jewellery.
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While it is easy to keep track of money received in the form of cheques and demand drafts, it is difficult to maintain proper records of jewellery.

"Taking advantage of the confusion and chaos that that the place is mired in, the gold has been transported unlawfully. The matter should be thoroughly investigated," said the source. Members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust were unvailable for comment.