Sai temple plans law suit against TV channel

PUNE: The Sai temple trust at Shirdi is planning to take legal action against a TV channel for airing what are purported to be Sai Baba's teachings using his still photograph with simulated lip movement.

"We are consulting our lawyers in Aurangabad. We plan to take legal action against the channel in the next couple of days," Shri Sai Baba Sansthan chairman Jayant Sasane said on Monday.

Millions of Sai devotees across the world have been calling up the trust based in Shirdi, which is home to Sai Baba's shrine, since the three-hour programme was telecast last week.

"Videos like this are all over the Internet. I have seen them myself. They don't sound like his (Sai Baba's) teachings at all. It is easy to see that it's a mere animation trick," said Nitish Bhargawa, a software professional here.

Sai Baba, a spiritual leader, took samadhi in Shirdi, about 300 km from Mumbai, in 1918. During his lifetime only a few still photographs of him were taken.

"This is not ethical at all. It hurts the religious sentiments of people. We request everybody to avoid such activities," Sansthan's public relations officer Mohan Yadav said.

"Video clippings such as this are in bad taste and TV channels showing them without proper investigation are acting totally irresponsibly," he added.

The clip apparently showing Sai Baba talking was posted on many blog sites more than a year ago.