Yajur Mandir, the private chamber of Sri Satya Sai Baba, disgorged a fortune Friday — 98 kg gold, 307 kg silver and `11.56 crores in cash — when the trustees of the Sri Satya Sai Baba Central Trust opened it for the first time. Unfortunately, the trustees did not find Baba’s will naming his successor.
Other than Baba himself, only his trusted aide Satyajit had access to the chamber and the lockers within. It was with his help that the trustees, led by Baba’s nephew R.J. Ratnakar, took an inventory of the treasure that mostly included gifts from devotees from across the world.
Mr Ratnakar told reporters the trustees, backed by two independent witnesses (Justice A.P. Mishra and Mr Vaidyanathan), found `11,56,47,049 in cash, 98 kg gold and 307 kg silver ornaments that were kept under lock and key in Yajur Mandir, locked ever since Baba was hospitalised on March 28.
With speculation rising daily on whether the Baba had left any will or had named a successor, the trustees decided to open Yajur Mandir.