Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan -Interim bail of the four Controversial trustees cancelled

A local court in Kopargoan on Friday has cancelled the interim bail of four trustees, Captain Suresh Vasudev, K.C. Pandey, R.G. Karnik and Urmila Jadhav.  On allegations of misappropriation of The Trust funds and misuse of the Trust vehicles, to the tune of 2 lakhs between 2004 and 2007, the Rahata court near Shirdi had ordered a police enquiry.  As the interim bail granted was cancelled on Friday, Shirdi police inspector Datta Pawar said that they would be arresting the three accused soon. 

We may recall that, due to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by some activists, in March, the Aurangabad division bench of the Bombay High Court ordered the disbandment of the Trust and had nominated the Ahmednagar collector, to oversee the day-to-activities of the Trust.  The 18 members of the trust were removed as their appointments were found to be arbitrary and not legal.

Shirdi Sai Paduka in Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam

There were news reports that in an unprecedent move, on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012, the TTD trust board chairman Bapiraju personally carried the padukas of Shirdi Saibaba inside the Venkateswara Temple.  

Read more: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/row-erupts-over-shirdi-sai-paduka-tirumala-389

TTD Trust board chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju carrying the padukas of Shirdi Saibaba inside the Tirumala Temple.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is caught in yet another controversy with TTD trust board chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju carrying the padukas (footwear) of Shirdi Saibaba, represented by the Shirdi Sansthan, inside the Tirumala temple on Wednesday.

A huge entourage from Shirdi Sansthan accompanied the ritual. Various public, political and religious groups objected to taking the padukas of Shirdi inside Tirumala temple, saying that it would be a sacrilege of the 2,000-year-old ancient Hindu temple tradition.

It may be noted here that as per legend, even Lord Venkateswara himself left behind his footwear at Alipiri Padala Mandapam before going to Tirumala.

Saint Ramanujacharya had trekked the holy Tirumala hills on his knees. The TTD had also prohibited wearing footwear in the temple streets at Tirumala.

This being the case, the footwear of Shirdi Sai was taken in a procession along the temple streets.

View the video (1:26 minutes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wue_hEBUyWQ
View the video with interviews (12:39 minutes) http://www.ap7am.com/lv-55966-tv9-shirdi-sai-paduka-darshan-at-tirumala-turns-controversial.html

For more photos visit http://saibabadwarkamai.com/forum/index.php?topic=5298.0