Sai Baba
could be put on UK blacklist
Vijay Dutt
(London, August 27, 2001)
Followers of the Sai Baba may think him divine. However, the British Foreign
Office is reportedly taking a less kind view of the Andhra holy man.
According
to a report in The Times, the Foreign Office is believed to be studying Sai
Baba's "activities and considering issuing an unprecedented warning against the
guru to travellers".
The Times claims "three Britons have apparently taken their lives after placing
hope in India's most popular holy man". It alleges the three men "died
mysteriously" after becoming the Sai Baba's followers. The report said one
Briton had complained of sexual assaults by the guru at his ashram in
Puttaparthi near Bangalore.
One of the three was Michael Pender, an HIV-positive student who was found dead
at a hostel for the homeless in north London after taking alcohol and
painkillers. Reportedly, he had earlier tried to commit suicide at the ashram.
Another one was Aran Edwards, a classical guitarist and a post-graduate theology
student, who hanged himself at home in Cardiff after joining a Sai Baba support
group.
The third person, Andrew Richardson, 33, allegedly jumped off a building shortly
after visiting the ashram.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/280801/detfro06.asp