Sai Trust claims seized cash belonged to devotee

Speaking for the first time after being mired in controversy, V Srinivasan, a trustee with the Shri Sathya Sai Central Trust refuted allegations of any wrongdoings.

Srinivasan was questioned by the police on Monday in connection over the allegation that his driver had transported Rs 35.5 lakh from Puttaparthi last week on his instructions.

However, speaking with mediapersons, Srinivasan said that the money was given by a devotee towards the construction of a Sai Baba Samadhi. "The trust is transparent and there is no wrongdoing whatsoever here," he said.

"There have had been a loot of donations, and the trust has followed every mandated procedure. We have filed the statutory returns and donations received from devotees, and every procedure undertaken by us is transparent in nature," he added.

"The cash which was seized from the vehicle belonged to a devotee. The trust had appointed a consultant for the construction of the Maha Samadhi, and a devotee was giving him this money," he added.

"This consultant has already made matters clear to the police. Moreover, each one of us is cooperating with the police, and are providing them with all the necessary details," he added.

"The trust has no connection with this money and the vehicle in question did not belong to the trust. The Maha Samadhi project is not being implemented by the trust, and hence the money was handed over to the consultant," he claimed.