TTD pushes for full probe after mysterious death
TTD chairman B R Naidu and EO Anil Kumar Singhal at the board meeting held in Tirumala on Tuesday
- Raises suspicions on the dubious compromise of Rs 14.5 cr property for $ 900 theft
- The trust board resolves to file new complaint citing doubts over earlier handling of the case
Tirupati: TTD trust board took a major decision that could reshape the long-running Parakamani theft controversy. At its emergency meeting in Tirumala on Tuesday, the board resolved to initiate fresh criminal proceedings, saying the earlier compromise approved by the Lok Adalat raised serious doubts and warranted a full-scale investigation.
At the meeting under the chairmanship of BR Naidu, board members unanimously expressed concern over the manner in which the case was handled in the past. The Board said that transparency was essential to uphold the faith of millions of devotees and emphasised that, as per the Vaikhanasa Agama, every offering made in the temple belongs exclusively to the presiding deity, leaving no room for irregularities or leniency.
The Vaikhanasa Agama dictates that “whoever donates here with pure mind and faith shall have his sins destroyed and attain eternal prosperity”. To maintain and protect this ritual, the belief of the pilgrims is required to be protected, the TTD mentioned.
At the centre of the dispute is an alleged theft of US$ 900 by CV Ravi Kumar, an employee of the Jeeyar Mutt assigned to duties in the Parakamani section. Though the offence had originally led to a police complaint, the matter later moved to the Lok Adalat, where the accused reportedly offered properties valued at Rs 14.5 crore to the TTD as part of a settlement.
A previous board had accepted the compromise, but the present trustees said the donation was ‘disproportionately large’, raising suspicions about what prompted such an agreement.
Complicating matters further, the issue is currently before the High Court, with multiple petitions pending. A single judge in writ petition no 1294 of 2025, directed the additional director general, CID, to inquire into the episode and submit a sealed report.
During the inquiry process, former TTD assistant vigilance and security officer Y Satish Kumar, who was directly involved in the settlement proceedings, died under mysterious circumstances, deepening scepticism among devotees and officials alike.
Terming the Lok Adalat award ‘rushed and questionable’, the TTD board said there was no merit in restricting the probe to the original theft complaint alone.
Instead, it decided to seek the cancellation of the earlier settlement and lodge a fresh criminal complaint to examine whether other offences, such as financial misappropriation or abuse of official authority occurred.
Chairman Naidu clarified that the move would not violate the legal principle of double jeopardy, as the intention was to ensure a fair and comprehensive probe. The board will now forward its proposal for new proceedings to the State government for approval, marking a significant escalation in a case that has already drawn intense public scrutiny.
