Inventory-taking not mandated by law: Sathya Sai trust
Hyderabad, July 21 (IANS) Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust Thursday clarified that the inventory-taking of late Sathya Sai Baba's residence and other premises at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi is an ongoing internal exercise and not mandated by law or by the government.
"The exercise is done by professionals working for or appointed by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust," the trust clarified while reacting to a story by IANS.
"It was only as a mark of the trust's commitment to transparency, that it invited the district collector and other state officials of whichever state this inventory is conducted in, to be an independent witness to the exercise," it said.
The trust also stated that it is a charitable organisation, and all monies received by it and spent are accounted for. It said it met with all the regulatory requirements and will continue to do so.
The trust denied making any claim that the audit was over.
"We are doing it in phases. The first audit was done in the main building of Yajur Mandir, the place where Sri Sathya Sai Baba resided. The successive audits have taken place in the annexe buildings and Poorna Chandra auditorium and the adjacent rooms, where Bhagawan used to live earlier."