The State Department Warning read:-
"U.S.
citizens should be aware that there have been
reports of inappropriate sexual behavior by a
prominent local religious leader at an ashram or
religious retreat located in Andhra Pradesh. Most of
the reports indicate that the subjects of these
approaches have been young male devotees, including
a number of U.S. citizens. Although these reports
are unconfirmed, U.S. citizens should be aware of
this information and contact the U.S. Consulate
General in Chennai for further information."
TRANSCRIPT - BBC report on investigations at the
U.S. Embassy, Delhi.
Tanya
Datta: The American Government is also
concerned. On the web site of the American Embassy
in Delhi there's a warning to U.S. citizens visiting
the State of Andhra Pradesh. It draws attention to a
noted Godman who reportedlyindulges in inappropriate
sexual behaviour with young male devotees.We
contacted the U.S. Embassy in Delhi and they confirmed to us, and for the first time, that they
are directly referring to Sai Baba.
The U.S. State Department does not issue warnings
without having investigated the reasons most
thoroughly. The State Department NEVER issued any
formal withdrawal of the warning against Sai Baba,
which would have also required them to make an
apology for promoting false information. The warning
simply became outdated, no doubt due to Sai Baba's
subsequent chronic invalidism and greatly reduced
capacity to meet devotees in private or continue the
named "inappropriate sexual behaviour" in private
interviews.
The chief argument of pro-Sai Baba defenders is that
the warning was withdrawn. However, 'withdrawal' of
a web page is not the same as withdrawal of the
allegations already made by such responsible bodies,
for no mention is made of refutation of the warnings,
far from it. The said web page did only make an
'indirect' reference to Sai Baba because no formal
court order had been achieved against Sai Baba, so
he could not be named for legal reasons only. The
warning was made, did refer to him, as he was
nevertheless named by US officials who were
contactable.
Return to overview of The Secret Swami