Satya Sai Baba lived, slept with 98 kg gold, Rs 12cr in cash

on Friday, June 17, 2011

Satya Sai Baba lived, slept with 98 kg gold, Rs 12cr in cash

Yajur Mandir, the private chambers of Sri Satya Sai Baba, which was opened for the first time on Thursday, disgorged a fortune — 98 kg gold, 307 kg silver and Rs 11.56 crore in cash — when the trustees of the Sri Satya Sai Baba Central Trust took stock of the trove on Friday.

Unfortunately, the trustees did not find Baba’s will naming his successor.

Other than Baba himself, only his trusted aide, Mr Satyajit, had access to the chambers and the lockers within.

It was with his help that the trustees, led by Baba’s nephew, Mr R.J. Ratnakar, took an inventory of the treasure that mostly included gifts from devotees from across the globe.

Mr Ratnakar said that the trustees, backed by two independent witnesses, had found Rs 11,56,47,049 in cash, 98 kg gold and 307 kg silver ornaments that were kept under lock and key in Yajur Mandir, which had been locked ever since Baba was hospitalised on March 28.

To clear speculations regarding whether the Baba had left any will or had named a successor, the trustees decided to open Yajur Mandir.

Mr Ratnakar said that five trustees and two members of the trust’s council of management opened it in the presence of independent witnesses Justice A.P. Mishra and Mr Vaidyanathan.

Sliding door safe had cash

After Satya Sai Baba’s demise, there were speculations that huge deposits of gold and cash were piled up in his personal chamber in Yajur Mandir.

The trustees on Friday disclosed the inventory of jewellery and cash found in Sai Baba’s residence.

VVIPs met Sai Baba in the green room for interviews and donated cash and gold. Sai Baba used to deposit them in special sliding door cupboards. About twenty computers provided live feed to Sai Baba about the activities of Satya Sai organisations around the world.

According to sources, Sai Baba and some students and security guard used to reside on the first floor.

It is learnt that Sai Baba lived in luxurious rooms equipped with centralised air conditioners. He used to sleep on the floor before he fractured his leg in 2007.

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