Police on Sunday arrested three persons on the charge of transporting Rs.35 lakh of unaccounted cash, allegedly originating from Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi.
During a routine checking of vehicles at the Kodikonda check-post, around 150 km from here on the Anantapur-Bangalore National Highway 7 late on Saturday night, a vehicle was found carrying the money. The driver denied any knowledge about the money and he was taken to the Somandepalli police station for questioning.
Anantapur District Superintendent of Police Shah Nawaz Qasim said the driver, Harishananda Shetty, told the police that he hailed from Obili village in Udipi district of Karnataka and worked as an engineer in a construction firm in Bangalore for over five years. Shetty also said the bag containing the cash was given to him by Shekar, driver of a member of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Shekar was subsequently apprehended by the police close to the Kothacheruvu Mandal headquarters from a bus going to Bangalore.
Shetty told the police that he was staying with his family in Prema Sai apartments in Puttaparthi to work on the construction of the Samadhi of Sathya Sai Baba.
The third person arrested is Sohan Shetty. He was driving a vehicle ahead of the one carrying the cash. He too works for the construction company.
Mr. Qasim said the police would inform the Income-Tax Department about the money after producing the three arrested persons before court and submitting the FIR.
Later in the evening, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust member R.J. Ratnakar told reporters that the Trust had nothing to do with the cash. It belonged to 12 persons who are not associated with the Trust and they would approach the authorities and resolve the issue.
