TTD board member demands probe into Parakamani ‘scam’ at Tirumala

Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board member and BJP leader G Bhanu Prakash Reddy on Tuesday demanded a thorough probe by a sitting judge into the alleged Parakamani scam at the Tirumala temple in 2023.During the TTD trust board meeting held at Tirumala on Tuesday, Bhanu Prakash Reddy drew the attention of the board members to the 2023 Parakamani scam in which funds and properties worth about Rs 100 crore were allegedly swindled off in connivance with a few senior TTD officials, vigilance and security staff and some police officials.Displaying some documents to support his claim, Bhanu Prakash Reddy said that on April 29, 2023, CV Ravi Kumar, working as a clerk at Pedda Jeeyangar mutt at Tirumala, who is also the authorised representative of the mutt engaged to supervise the Parakamani (Hundi counting) activities at the Tirumala temple, was caught red handed by the TTD vigilance and security officials, when he allegedly tried to steal $900 by hiding the notes in his underwear. After recovering the stolen currency from the accused, TTD vigilance lodged a complaint at Tirumala I Town police station and a case was booked against Ravi Kumar under sections 379 (theft) and 381 (theft by employee from employer) IPC.On May 30, 2023, the Tirumala police filed a chargesheet at the second additional judicial magistrate first class court in Tirupati."In a strange turn of events, the accused gifted about seven of his properties at prime locations in Chennai and Tirupati worth several crores to TTD on May 19, 2023. It was here that there was a big twist to the case", he said adding that after Ravi Kumar donated his properties, the vigilance inspector reached a compromise with the accused in the Lok Adalat. The case against him was dismissed on Sept 9 of 2023, the TTD board member alleged.Bhanu Prakash Reddy wondered how a vigilance officer could reach compromise with an accused without the matter being procedurally routed through the Devasthanams law department."The accused, who was an ordinary clerk, amassed disproportionate wealth worth several crores of rupees by stealing various valuables, including foreign currency notes frequently. He was allowed to go scot-free by reaching a compromise with the connivance of senior TTD officials, vigilance and security wing staff and the local police during the previous regime," Bhanu Prakash alleged.
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