98 kgs gold, Rs 12 crore cash found in Sathya Sai Baba's chamber

The Times of India/June 17, 2011

Hyderabad - Around Rs 12 crore in cash and nearly 100 kgs of gold were found from Yajur Mandir, the personal chamber of late spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi of Anantapur district, a trust official said.

A day after the Sathya Sai Central Trust opened the locks of Yajur Mandir, trust member and Baba's nephew RJ Ratnakar Friday evening announced details of the cash and valuables found inside.

He told reporters at Puttaparthi that they found Rs11.56 crore, 98 kgs gold and 307 kg silver. Ratnakar said the cash would be deposited with State Bank of India (SBI).

Some bank officials and about 15 disciples of Baba, in the presence of trust members, have since Thursday counted the cash and valued the gold jewellery.

Ratnakar, however, denied that they found any will of Baba. He also evaded queries if the trust found any documents about Baba's personal caregiver Satyajit. There are speculations that the spiritual guru wanted Satyajit to be a member of the powerful trust.

Yajur Mandir, also known as Yajurveda Mandir, had remained closed ever since Sathya Sai Baba was hospitalised March 28 with multi-organ dysfunction. He died April 24.

The trust, which manages the huge spiritual empire led by Baba, owns assets in Puttaparthi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities.

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