JOIN USShetty was arrested for an attempt to transport about Rs 35 lakh allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust to Bangalore on Saturday. Also, Shekar, the driver of the Toyota Qualis Shetty was transporting the money was also remanded to custody.
According to sources, Shetty had reportedly admitted that one of the Trust members had given him the money and that he was instructed to hand it over to a person in Bangalore. The police had already began interrogation of two Trust members in this connection.
Sai Baba’s nephew and Trust member R J Ratnakar had, however, on Sunday denied that any member of the trust had anything to do with the money and that the cash and that it belonged to 12 devotees.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Kothacheruvu Inspector, in-charge of Puttaparthi as DSP Narasimhalu has gone on leave, said: “Yes, Shetty has been remanded to custody.”
But on whether another person, who has been taken into custody on Sunday after seizing two bags allegedly filled with about Rs 1 crore of money, also belonged to the Trust he said: “I think it is false... but the person might also be remanded custody.”
When asked why the person was detained if there was no truth in there being money or other valuables involved, he directed this newspaper to Kothacheruvu DSP Kolar Krishan, attempts to contact whom went in vain.