Sai devotees claim cash in Trust vehicle meant for Samadhi

Media reports had said that the cash was reportedly being shifted from Yajur Mandir, the private chamber of Sai Baba, at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi town of Anantapur, to Bangalore.

However, a group of 12 devotees of Sai Baba submitted a letter to the Chilamattur Police Station House Officer giving their version.

"We, a group of devotees, have collected small amounts from each and pooled it in order to participate in the construction of holy 'Samadhi' at Prashanti Nilayam. We did not give it (amount of Rs 35.5 lakh) to the Trust account, as it would go to the common pool," they said.

"Since we all had a strong desire to contribute it specifically for Maha Samadhi, we decided to make the payment for the marble purchase and other works related to the construction. As a matter of protocol, we informed one of the Trustees and requested to take the money to Mandir to place at Bhagwan (Sathya Sai Baba's) chair for blessings and handover the money to the contractor," they said.

The devotees said they are given to understand that the movement of this amount was "obstructed due to misapprehension that the amount is not accounted for. With this clarification, we request that this amount may be released for the utilisation of the purpose it was meant to be."

Police had seized the four-wheeler late last night during checking at Kodikonda checkpost in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, bordering Karnataka. They had detained its driver, who was interrogated over the source and destination of the seized cash.

Chilamattur Police had also registered a case over the seizure of the cash.