Police to question Sai Baba trustees

Trustees of the Shri Satya Sai Central Trust have expressed their willingness to appear before the police for investigation into the case of missing cash from the Puttaparthi ashram.

Trustees R Ratnakar and Venu Srinivasan were issued notices by the police after an incident in which Rs 35.5 lakh, allegedly taken out of the Puttaparthi ashram, was seized by police.

Ratnakar said he was ready to appear before the police but added that he could do so only on Saturday. Srinivasan too has expressed his willingness, but said that he could do so only on Monday.

The police have, however, decided to hold the questioning of both the trustees on the same day. A decision on this would be taken on Friday and in all likelihood the two trustees will be questioned on Monday.

The trustees had earlier found Rs 11.6 crore in cash along with gold and silver in Yajur Mandir, Sathya Sai Baba's residence, which was deposited in the bank. However, a couple of days later the police arrested three people who were transporting Rs 35.5 lakh cash allegedly from the ashram.