TDP demands arrest of two members of Sai Trust

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party has demanded that the two members of the Satya Sai Central Trust be arrested immediately in connection with seizure of huge cash that was allegedly being diverted from Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of late Satya Sai Baba.Seeking arrest of Venu Srinivasan and R J Ratnakar, the TDP also demanded an enquiry by a Supreme Court judge in the diversion of treasure from the Trust and the involvement of some political leaders into it.The main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh also pointed out that there were doubts in the minds of devotees about involvement of a state minister and the son of a Union minister in the illegal diversion of Trust funds.In a statement here today, senior TDP leader and the Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, held chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy responsible for the 'murky' happenings at the Trust by remaining a mute spectator even as the reports suggested that huge cash, diamonds and other valuables were being clandestinely moved out of Yajur Mandir, the private chambers of Satya Sai Baba since he was hospitalised on March 28.That huge amounts of cash secretly moved to other states became clear with the finding of only Rs 12 crore when an inventory was taken in the Yajur Mandir last week, he pointed out."While Ratnakar claimed that Rs 35 lakh seized from a car did not belong to the Trust, the Anantapur district SP asserted that the money indeed belonged to the Trust. The money was in fact seized from the driver of Venu Srinivasan of the TVS group. Why is the government not arresting Srinivasan, Ratnakar and the chief security officer of Prasanthi Nilayam in connection with the case," questioned Veerabhadra Rao.Alleging that some state ministers were exerting pressure on chief minister from taking any action against the errant Trust members, Rao demanded that Kiran Kumar Reddy reveal their names."The happenings in the Satya Sai Central Trust are damaging the image of Andhra Pradesh internationally. The Chief Minister should take the blame for this as he failed to take necessary action at the right time," Rao said.The police in Anantapur district had seized Rs 35 lakh in cash that was being transported in a vehicle, allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust, and detained the vehicle's driver near Karnataka border on the night of June 18.