Rs 100-cr donor of Tourist rest house in Shirdi refuses favour

The controversy over the decision of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan to allot 20 rooms to K V Ramani for his gracious donation of Rs 100 crore to build a Tourist rest house, has taken a new turn with the donor refusing to accept the Trust's offer.

Ramani, head of IT department of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan in Shirdi, wrote a letter to the Trust refusing their offer of allotment of 20 rooms. However, he did not assign any reason for not accepting this gesture, Sansthan sources said.

Two days ago, the Bombay High Court had dismissed a PIL which challenged appointment of Ramani as head of Advisory Committee of IT department of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan. The court had observed that the petitioner had not made any representation to the government and added that it was not inclined to hear the matter.

Ramani is also the Managing Director of Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Chennai, and considered an expert in computer technology. He was appointed to this honorary post for a period of five years in October 2008.

Ramani had donated Rs 100 crore for construction of a tourist rest house 'Sai Ashram' at Shirdi. He had requested allotment of seven per cent rooms to him.

However, in October 2010, Shirdi's Sai Baba Trust resolved to allot 20 rooms in the Ashram to Ramani, besides allowing him to open an office for his trust in the premises of Sai Ashram, the PIL alleged.

The PIL, filed by Shirdi residents, Sandeep Kulkarni and Uttamrao Shelke, had alleged that Ramani, by paying a huge donation of Rs 100 crore, had influenced the Sai Saba Sansthan to appoint him as the head of IT department of the Trust.

Sandeep Kulkarni, one of the petitioners, said he filed the PIL as he was against conditional donation and added that there was nothing personal against Ramani. He said the state government would be urged to ensure that the practice of collecting donations without any conditions was strictly enforced in the state.

ALSO READ

Mulayam Singh Yadav sets sight on Centre, seeks party's expansion

Attack in Jammu jail: India acted fast, but Pak took no action: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Geetika suicide case: Court reserves order on framing of charge

President Pranab Mukherjee asks Supreme Court to decide women lawyers' plea for safer courts