NEW DELHI: Indian prime minister Narasimha Rao’s acknowledged religious “guru” Satya Sai Baba, faces a piquant situation in the contest of a recent shoot out in his Prashanti Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh abode resulting in several deaths. ‘The police is still groping in the dark about the motives of the al leged attackers on the Hindu Godman but a mysterious lever received by a Telegu daily Renadu provides a ray of hope fora breakthrough in the criminal drama.
Ravi, one of the two wanted per sons, in his letter to the daily made startling allegations about the going son in the Godman’s abode and said that the Baba himself was in the know of the violent happenings inside the campus. Ravi further claimed that he was an eye witness to at least two murders in the abode but in the event of his arrest by the Anantpur district police he was in danger of being eliminated as a cover up effort. Ravi was a former manager of the canteen in the abode. The wanted man further claimed that the real intention of the June6 attackers was not to kill the Baba but certain persons who were after his (Ravi’s) life. He charged the Baba with knowledge about the “atrocities” inside the abode. “Another murder is likely to take place very soon,” the letter writer warned, Andhra home minister doubted the authenticity of the letter but promised full protection to him in the event of his surrender. The special inspector general of police who is investigating the case has also assured that no harm will come to Ravi, The Baba is said to be indifferent to the investigations and is not cooperating with the police. It is also a fact that the district police officers of Anantapur are followers of Baba Satya Sai in the Same way as India’s prime minister is. The Baba’s followers include Madan Mohan Punchhi, a Judge of the Indian Supreme Court. The judiciary below may also be affected by the spirituality of the Baba and investigators into the violent scandal may not a smooth affair, according to observers.
Article extracted from this publication >>July 2, 1993
