Following the death of Indian Guru and businessman Satya Sai Baba in April this year there has been much speculation about the future of the assets of his empire, including the vast property portfolio his organisation controlled.
The Guru who was always a controversial figure, famed for performing spectacular materialisations, was worshipped by millions of followers around the world and was said to have ammassed assets amounting to between $10 - 25 billion. Certain of the assets based in India are now managed by an Indian based trust but this does not extend to any assets outside the continent. The Trust manages two hospitals and a University amongst others, and the funds to continue to run these are provided by the interest accrued on the estimated $190 million cash reserves the trust controls. The Goverment in Andhra Pradesh has asked the Trust to provide details of these various assets.
Outside India there are thought to be 1,200 Satya Sai Baba centres in 114 countries and countless other properties around the world about which little is known. Undoubtedly Sai Baba's educational, charitable and philanthropic work will be continued by his followers for many years to come, but the task of unravelling the complex dealings of his empire may prove to be a challenging one.
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