K N Ananda Kumar
Credit: Website/saigramamglobal.org
Thiruvananthapuram: The involvement of founder and executive director of Thiruvananthapuram based Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust K N Ananda Kumar in the half-price scam in Kerala has come as a big shock for many in the state.
With a local court in Thiruvananthapuram rejecting Kumar's bail plea on Tuesday, a Crime Branch team took him into custody. He was later shifted to a hospital as he complained of uneasiness. Kumar has been a known social worker and philanthropist over the last three decades.
Being the chairman of the National NGO Federation that cheated thousands of people by offering two-wheelers and home appliances at half-price by utilising CSR funds of companies, Kumar became a prime accused in the scam. Idukki native Ananthu Krishnan, who is already held, is believed to be the kingpin of the over Rs 500 crore scam.
Kumar, who had a clean image could host many who is who of the country including former President A P J Abdul Kalam and former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. He could even meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Thiruvananthapuram last year.
The gallery of his institution's website is filled with pictures of his engagement with known personalities, including leaders of all political parties.
A devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, Kumar started his charity activities in the 1990s. His charity activities began by setting up an orphanage in 1996, which has now become the Sai Gramam at Thonackal on the suburbs of Thiruvanantharpuram that houses hundreds of destitute.
The trust rolled out around 150 charity activities over these years. Free dialysis project of the trust, which catered to over five lakh persons, earned much appreciation for Kumar. The trust even received world records.
According to the trust, it had so far benefitted 56,85,000 persons and carried out 5,700 successful missions.
In the meantime, there were also criticisms that the trust used to insist on huge donations from well-to-do elderly persons who wish to spend their retired life at Sai Gramam.
Along with his charity activities, Kumar was also a fruit and vegetable exporter for some time.
With his involvement in the half-price scam coming out, demands to probe into his charity activities have also come up from various quarters. The enforcement directorate had already launched a probe against him in view of the half-price scam.