Two members of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board have come forward with what they claim is video evidence of the highly contentious ‘Parakamani scam,’ which first came to light in April 2023. Their action follows and celebrates the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s recent decision to mandate a fresh investigation into the case by the CB-CID (Crime Investigation Department).
During a press conference held on Saturday, TTD board member and BJP State spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, alongside TTD Ex Officio member and TUDA Chairman C. Divakar Reddy, publicly shared CCTV footage. This footage reportedly originated from the surveillance cameras installed at the Tirumala Parakamani, the dedicated center for counting offerings of coins and currency notes.
The scam reportedly involved C.V. Ravi Kumar, who, on April 29, 2023, was allegedly caught pilfering currency notes by hiding them in his undergarments. While initial reports indicated he had stolen approximately $11,300 (around ₹9 lakh), the First Information Report (FIR) surprisingly documented the recovery of only $900.
Further investigations by TTD officials allegedly revealed that Ravi Kumar had, over time, accumulated assets worth an estimated ₹100 crore through repeated thefts of foreign currency.
Expressing serious concerns, Mr. Bhanuprakash questioned the discrepancy: “Why was the recovered amount listed in the FIR so significantly lower than the actual quantity seized? Where did the rest of the money go? And who is complicit in this apparent cover-up?”
The case, originally filed at the Tirumala police station, was controversially transferred to the Lok Adalat court. There, a ‘compromise settlement’ was reportedly reached in September 2023, where Mr. Ravi Kumar agreed to ‘donate’ seven properties, valued at ₹40 crore and located in Tirupati and Chennai, to the TTD.
Mr. Divakar Reddy strongly criticized this settlement, stating, “Who authorized the TTD to approach the Lok Adalat for such a flawed arrangement in a scam involving properties potentially worth ₹100 crore? The TTD acts solely as a custodian of Lord Venkateswara’s assets and does not possess the authority to make such arbitrary decisions.”
In response to the High Court’s directive to suspend the Lok Adalat’s order and reopen the case with the involvement of the CB-CID, Mr. Bhanuprakash Reddy voiced optimism, hoping that justice would finally be served once the “hidden individuals” involved in the scam are brought to light.
High Court Orders Seizure of Records
Speaking to the press in Tirumala, Mr. Bhanuprakash Reddy welcomed the High Court’s oral pronouncements in the case. The court, on Friday, unequivocally stated its intention to first suspend the Tirupati Lok Adalat’s order until further directives and, notably, decided to suo motu (on its own motion) include the Inspector General of the CB-CID as a respondent in the proceedings.
He added that the court has also ordered the immediate seizure of all relevant records pertaining to the case, including any TTD Board resolutions and proceedings conducted by TTD officials. These documents are to be submitted in a sealed cover for the court’s review before the next hearing on October 13.
According to Mr. Reddy, the TTD’s own Vigilance wing had previously indicated in its report that it was “forced to agree to a compromise, unable to resist pressure from senior police officials.”
The BJP leader further alleged that many crores of rupees had been misappropriated in the Parakamani. He pointed to the fact that the accused had registered 13 flats in a single building in the TTD’s name as strong evidence supporting his claims of a large-scale swindle.