Apparently stung by allegations of entrapping Sathya Sai Baba when he was seriously ill, Satyajit, Baba's caretaker has decided to shift base from Puttaparthi to Mumbai.
Dharmakshetra, Sathya Sai Baba's residence in Mumbai. Sathya Sai Baba's nephew R J Rathnakar performs the last rites, while Satyajit is nowhere to be seen.
Sources said that in accordance with the instructions of the trust members, he maintained a low profile and was not seen prominently during the burial ceremony of the Baba on April 29.
This had hurt him deeply and he, according to
"After serving the Baba for over 15 years, he was denied the opportunity to pay his final respects. This made him take the step," said the source. "Satyajit is really hurt by the way he was discussed in public when the Baba was battling for life in the hospital.
After Baba's death, he was projected as one eying the assets of the trust. He wants to put an end to all this," said a source in Prashanthi Nilayam, Baba's ashram in Puttaparthi.
Although Satyajit was not available for comment, sources confirmed that he would be moving to the Baba's ashram in Mumbai to serve as a devotee, where his parents were likely join him.
Amidst speculations that Satyajit would be made chairman of the trust, officially estimated to be worth Rs 40,000 crore, trust members made it clear at a press conference on 30 April that he would have no role to play.
"It is true that the trust took note of the developments, which looked difficult at some point of time. We had asked Satyajit to restrain himself, but it is his own decision to shift base," said a trust member.
Growing accusations
A rumour of Baba having left a will in which he named Satyajit as heir apparent did the rounds. However, it was quashed as trust members denied it.
Later, while the trust continued without a chairman, three members were authorised to sign cheques. Trust members, and Baba's nephew R J Ratnakar in particular, was believed to have been irked with Satyajit in the backdrop of speculations, thereby making him the centre of attention.
The Baba was hospitalised, on March 27 and was being treated for multiple organ failure, but he believed to be suffered two massive heart attacks in a span of two days between March 25 and 26. And Satyajit was accused of keeping the news under wraps.
The Baba was rarely seen in public after he tripped and hurt himself in the ashram in 2003, and Satyajit was the caretaker.
Apart from denying devotees access to Baba, he was accused of over-dosing him with drugs.
Shamasundar, a professor had also written to the government in this regard, following which the police were asked to file a report and that is yet to be submitted.
