Sathya Sai Central Trust era of unaccountability drawing to a close?

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/3/2011062420110624030526760ecadaf16/AP-govt-may-tap-Sai-trust%E2%80%99s-assets-after-takeover.html

BREAKING NEWS: The government of Andhra Pradesh – no longer under the heel of Sathya Sai Baba and his minions – has taken the previously unthinkable step of most likely withdrawing many of the extraordinarily wide-ranging exemptions from public scrutiny from the Sathya Sai Central Trust which it has enjoyed since the mid-70s, later also formally granted to the trust under the Hindu Temples and Trusts Act, 1987. These included “…exemption given under section 59 of the Act allowed the trust to evade information about the assets and property of different trusts. Exemptions given under sections 58, 60, 61 and 65 of the Act allowed the trust not to entertain yearly audit by the government, supervision by deputy collector rank officer, submission of annual profit and loss account.” All of the sixteen unusual privileges concerning auditing, some taxation, freedom from publishing accounts, non-supervision by government officials and others have now been revoked. Even the sale of assets by the Sai Trust is reportedly to be forbidden without government approval – including the right “…to sell its land, property, intellectual property, publications, music and film productions without giving any information to the government or pass through the supervisory system provided by the government. All these exemptions will now be withdrawn, the sources said.” “…chief minister Kiran Kumar gave the green signal to withdraw these concessions. “The exercise is meant to bring about more transparency while not restricting the various activities of the trust including the running of hospitals, university and other missions,” said a senior official dealing with the matter.” from Times of India – http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Finally-govt-to-rein-in-Sai-Trust/articleshow/8971689.cms).

from http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/andhra-pradesh-government-plans-to-take-over-satya-sai-baba-trust/1/142542.html

A serious investigation is underway and the Sai Trust will first be called to account for the irregularities so widely reported. The Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy (not a Sai Baba devotee) rejected apprehensions by his cabinet that Sai Baba devotees may be offended by any governmental takeover of the Sai Trust. This seems to point to just such a decision being contemplated by the government.

The golden era of secrecy, unaccountability, cover-up of embezzlement and money laundering in the Sathya Sai Central Trust appears to be coming to an end, despite the very strong political connections and protections the Trustees could rely upon while Sathya Sai Baba was alive.

Sathya Sai Baba ‘Himself’ to blame: By his immense hoarding of property in secrecy in his strictly guarded $10 million palace, Sai Baba himself created the conditions for the loss of credibility of the Trust and his own self-proclaimed non-ownership of property (except his boys) and non-acceptance of gifts. The miserly style of the cache – much hidden under his vast bed, or behind false walls and in secret places under the floor and within wardrobes – including dried fruit, biscuits and a whole range of consumer products (besides the great amounts of gold, silver and currency like in Aladdin’s cave)  – has shaken all those who believed his every word. Fortunately, the many devotees and office-bearers in his organization who left because they saw through the massive deceptions and break of trust that Sai Baba built his name upon have been variously pointing out the true facts for a number of years. Among their number there are many young men who describe most credibly how they were sexually molested – often severely abused – by Sathya Sai Baba.

See also preceding blog here Sai Baba cult under pressure of events and doubts