SENSATIONAL INSIDE REVELATIONS ABOUT THE SAI BABA COTERIE
&
THE 1993 MURDERS RECEIVED FROM
V.K. NARASIMHAN,
FORMER EDITOR OF SANATHANA SARATHI
For the sake of those who have not had the advantage of knowing people who are
extremely well-informed about the daily doings of SB, I have written a series
of papers on my very close interchanges with my very excellent deceased
friend, V. K. Narasimhan (renowned journalist and editor - latterly of
Sanathana Sarathi, where he published dozens of my articles). Narasimhan
was very important to the respectability of SB in leading Indian circles, but
he harboured many and persistent doubts.
These articles tells about the legacy of facts and inside knowledge that I was
left with by V.K.Narasimhan, a burden of unspoken truth that will be very
unpalatable and extremely disturbing to many, as they were to me at the time.
Let me state at the outset that I swear on my
personal honour that all I relate here is nothing but the truth to the very
best of my understanding and recollection (which is based on copious notes
made at the time).
Narasimhan often repeated that he really didn't understand why SB was so nice
to him... describing himself as a rather non-religious and even
cynical person. However, it is quite evident that SB found VKN a very valuable
asset to his social credibility. VKN's huge journalistic prestige, his known social
ideals and not least his well-known decency and honesty gave a kind of
guarantee of SB's genuineness and bolstered his image in the eyes of the more
enlightened middle classes of India. Yet why did VKN, who was known for honest
journalism and was not a little proud of this, go along with an entirely
non-negative presentation of absolutely everything to do with SB and all his
works, both in the monthly SB journal and in his own public talks, when he so
well knew about failings and worse that occurred around him? One reason is
that VKN always felt great respect for SB, and - like most others - was
strongly affected by his invigorating (and intimidating) presence. Moreover, a
journalist who had seen so much failure, incompetence and corruption in his
journalistic travels, VKN had admiration for SB's public works and personal
engagement, as well as his stated determination to raise India and protect or
regenerate all that was good about its culture and people.
Certainly, after VKN's wife died, SB called him for something or other
practically every day and he spent many long hours close by SB at festivals,
in occasional interviews, and rode about with him in cars etc. It is
significant that a person so often with SB - frequently on a daily basis -
held the opinions he did, and voiced them. Meanwhile, I am taking sole
responsibility for making this information common knowledge, both about the
amazing abilities and activities of SB told me by VKN and about the
doubtful and darker sides of what has gone on very close to him. Especially
after VKN's wife died, he became virtually dependent on living in the ashram
for he had grown into the way of life there after 20 years in frequent
association with SB. Since he gave up his house and resided in the ashram, VKN had virtually - if gradually - fallen more and more under
the charm, but also the power, of SB. While all devotees do this to a
considerable extent, those coming from abroad can more easily break out if the
need should arise, as is seen in the fall away of prominent foreign devotees after
the 1999 revelations, and by the fact that very few prominent Indian
followers revoke SB, and certainly not in public.
It is not without some misgivings that I report these matters.; I am impelled
by my duty that certain facts should be recorded accurately and truthfully -I
am possibly indebted to Sathya SB for some form of physical healing, and
spiritual sustenance at times, plus many paranormal experiences. Unlike the
majority of Sai followers, however, my gratitude does not extend to gagging
myself about important negative facts at SB's ashrams, and I have come to
know of plenty such, not least from V.K. Narasimhan, including the gravest
kinds of criminal behaviour.
The most important piece of information I ever received from Narasimhan, was
also the most shattering. It had sometimes caused me some problems and doubts
that VKN confided to me experiences and facts known to insiders of the ashram
but which he was unable, not least for reasons of his own and others'
security, to speak openly about there. Still, I was determined to rationalise
everything nicely to make it all fit the Procrustean bed of SB's claims about himself, his work and 'mission'.
Had Narasimhan - in whose integrity I had full faith - not been willing to
give me a frank account of what happened, I would still have believe that Sai
Baba, his brother, the ashram and the Central Trust were entirely innocent. But they were not! I guarantee on my honour that what follows is an accurate a
report as my notes at the time. When I asked Narasimhan in January 1996 in
private what had occurred, he said of SB's top officials, "they did a
terrible thing", using those very words. Those involved were some top ashram
officials and Central Trust members, and particularly SB's younger brother,
Janakiramiah. The police, once they finally arrived on the scene, were
blackmailed by these people into shooting the four intruders and claiming it
was in self-defence.
Narasimhan attested the above to me as an indubitable fact, though he was not
personally present to the killings, being asleep in his apartment. He further
recounted to me a conversation at which he had been present when
Baba's younger brother, Jankiramaiah (a multi-millionaire property owner and
entrepreneur who now also virtually heads the Sathya Sai Central Trust)
discussed the incident with "a very high official in the Indian Government",
who it later became clear was the Home Minister, S.B. Chavan. (Note
Janakiramiah openly claimed to the press repeatedly and insistently that the
intruders had intended to assassinate his elder brother, SB!) Chavan had
congratulated Janakiramiah on having had the four intruders shot by the police
and one of them commented "Dead men tell no tales", whereupon they actually laughed together. Narasimhan was
deeply shocked. When one considers his position at that time, it is easy to
see how powerless he was to stand up and announce what he knew. His life would
almost certainly have been in danger.
VK Narasimhan, whose word I just cannot doubt on this, also told me how the
ashram/Central Trust authorities had a lever with which to blackmail the police to execute by shooting the
four youths who had knifed to death Baba's two attendants... and they used it!
Learning all this to be indisputable fact shook my view of everything around SB worse than anything before or even since. It has also obviously had
repercussions on my faith in Baba's alleged universal benevolence, even though
he may well have given no instructions himself but just let things
happen. Armed only with knives, the youths could have been disarmed one by one
before they were allowed to exit the room or, at least only shot to
disable them if they threatened the police.
Source materials on the Prashanthi Nilayam police executions in 1993 in Sathya Sai Baba's apartment - links:-
The following links cover most of the valid documentation of facts, media sources, opinions and comments on the murders:-
I recount the murders and blackmailing episode in full, V.K. Narasimhan's reactions and many other relevant details of the whole matter at http://www.saibaba-x.org.uk/8/index.html
The unresolved, covered-up 1993 murders in Sathya Sai Baba's bedroom - review
The Facts the photographs reveal about the murders
The Murders in Prashanti Nilayam and more
Overview of the murders if Sai Baba's bedroom and how I came to learn of the blackmail by Sai officials behind the police executions of four intruder devotees from V.K. Narasimhan
Scanned record of notes on V.K.Narasimhan'a confidences about the murders
More concerning the 1993 murders in the Prashanthi Nilayam Temple
Interview on BBC documentary 'The Secret Swami' with V.P.B. Nair, former home minister of Andhra Pradesh during the 1993 murders
Excerpts from Indian newspaper reports on the murders in Sai Baba's vicinity and the cover-up
6) Review of the cover-up and what cannot be denied
Vijay Prabhu (supposed 'master-minder' of murder episode: His involvement reported from an IAS source
Murder coverage in 'The Week' (India) with explanatory diagram/drawing
Conny Larsson on how he became aware of the facts about the murders
Murder of Swiss-German lady in her Prashanthi Nilayam apartment as used by Sai Baba coterie to blackmail police in 1993 to murder four intruders in SB's bedroom
Writ petition to the High Court - Andhra Pradesh for investigation of the murders
Additional evidence from an independent source
Articles by Basava Premanand - former editor of The Indian Sceptic and India Skeptic and India's chief investigator of the 1993 murders episode (rationalist Association of India) Premanand was burgled, and attacked as a result, see the BBC interview with him here
Key points on the murders summarized - by B. Premanand
Murders issue - a defamatory critic rebutted
Conclusive rebuttal about the murders
More on the 1993 murders episode, cover-up and follow-up - Video Resources: -
"The Secret Swami' showcased with selected transcripts and brief video clips
‘Seduced' (DR, Danish Broadcasting, Denmark's national television and radio broadcaster):
http://www.exbaba.com/seduced/seduced.wmv (80 MB, Broadband)
http://www.exbaba.com/movies.html#seduced_ (21 MB, Modem)
How were the infamous murders covered-up?
Murders in the Prashanthi temple – reflections 1
Murders in the Prashanthi temple – reflections 2
More about the 1993 murders
Sathya Sai Baba Bedroom Murders - Part 2
Sathya Sai Baba Bedroom Murders - Part 3
Sathya Sai Bedroom Murders - Part 4
Sathya Sai Baba Bedroom Murders - Part 5
Have your say at the Public Petition for Official Investigation of Sathya Sai Baba and his worldwide Organization (over 1500 persons have signed this petition so far)
See also notes recording V.K. Narasimhan conversations in the 1990s at the ashrams here and here
Further, see the unofficial reports by an IAS officer, V.Ramnath.
http://www.saibaba-x.org.uk/16/Ramu_Prabhu.html
Condensed version of the ‘The Secret Swami’, BBC documentary
From the BBC's documentary on Sathya Sai Baba - 'The Secret Swami' on the infamous 1993 murders in his bedroom:-
Tanya Datta: Sex abuse is not the only controversy tainting the God man's reputation. On a June night back in nineteen ninety-three, four devotees broke into Sai Babas quarters. They were armed with knives. Their motives are unclear. All four were close to Sai Baba. Some say they wanted to warn him about corruption in the Ashram. Others claim their intention was to kidnap or even kill Sai Baba. As they approached they were stopped by four of Sai Baba's attendants.
In the struggle that followed two of his attendants were killed and the other two badly injured. Hearing the commotion Sai Baba escaped through a back stairway and raised the alarm. Heavily armed police arrived on the scene.
Transcript of the BBC's interview with V.P.B. Nair, Home Secretary of Andhra Pradesh in 1993 at the time of the murders in Sathya Sai Baba's bedroom, whose position gave him insight into the entire known case:-
VPB Nair: So these boys, they ran and locked themselves up in a room. And then in the whole, all around a lot of pandemonium and people gathered so the boys were shivering like rats in that small hole.
Tanya Datta: The four men barricaded themselves into Sai Baba's bedroom. There was a stand-off with the police. Then the order was given to go in. What happened next is hotly disputed. The official version seemed clear.
VPB Nair: These four boys charged towards the police with the knives and started stabbing the inspector and other personnel. Because they were attacked they opened fire.
Tanya Datta: In self-defence?
VPB Nair:In self-defence. They opened fire and killed all the four boys. This the police story.
Tanya Datta: Velayudhan Nair rejects the police version of events. He should know. Until two thousand and two he was Home Secretary of Andhra Pradesh and in charge of the state police. On coming to office he examined the files and found that the original police report was riddled with lies and inconsistencies. This was later exposed by a CID investigation.
VPB Nair: Two or three daggers cannot be a match to roaring guns. So this story of the police being attacked and the police shooting in self-defence is totally baseless.
Tanya Datta: So are you suggesting that the police executed the boys that night?
VPB Nair: In absolute... this is absolute cold-blooded murder.
Tanya Datta: Some police officers were arrested but never charged. The case was eventually dropped. Sai Baba has always had a close relationship with the police. Even today, senior officers are special guests at the Ashram. With friends in such high places Sai Baba seems to be untouchable. Any attempt to investigate the goings-on at his Ashram even, murder, appear doomed to failure. Critics say police connections ensured that Sai Baba wasn't even interviewed, despite being one of the witnesses to the events of that night.
Transcript of interview with Basava Premanand - Rationalist & Author:
Basava Premanand: The only person who was a witness to the murders of mysterious deaths, that was Sai Baba and he was not examined as, for evidence at all and those students also who were there, two or three students they were not examined at all.
Tanya Datta: Why do you think that the nineteen ninety-three murders weren't properly investigated?
Basava Premanand: The central government stopped the investigation because if the investigation takes place, a lot of things will come out. One thing. Economic offences, sex offences, all these things will come out.
Tanya Datta: Shocked at what he considers a travesty of justice, the former Home Secretary is now seeking to reopen the case.
VPB Nair The killing of the boys was only to buy silence. If the boys are taken to the court of law, if they were arrested and taken to the court of law, they would have stated several things including why did they want to meet Baba. (See also The Sathya Sai Baba bedroom Murders)
Further resources on the BBC documentary are found here:-
BBC Hidden Camera in 'Secret Swami'. Ethical?
Guru Sex Abuse Testimony To BBC - After Years of Silence
Indian Minister Shields Sai Baba on BBC television
Probed On Male Sex Abuse, Sai Baba Evicts BBC TV Team
Exposure of Sathya Sai Baba. Media Source List
