Former TTD Chairman Summoned in Tirupati Temple Offerings Investigation: CID Probe Intensifies

The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) has escalated its investigation into alleged irregularities within the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Parakamani by issuing a formal notice to former TTD Board chairman Bhoomana Karunakar Reddy. The notice requires him to appear before investigators on Tuesday for questioning deemed "crucial" to the inquiry's progress.

This summons comes in response to Reddy's confirmed participation in a TTD Board meeting concerning the Parakamani matter. The investigation was initiated following an October 27 directive from the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Parakamani represents far more than mere accounting at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala. The term literally translates to "counting of currency" and describes a meticulous, continuous process of sorting, counting, and categorizing the substantial offerings of cash, foreign currency, gold, and silver that devotees deposit in the Srivari Hundi (donation box).

To ensure complete transparency, the TTD typically employs carefully selected volunteers (sevakars) with backgrounds in banking, government, and public sectors. These operations are conducted under constant CCTV surveillance.

With the TTD's annual budget reaching thousands of crores of rupees, maintaining the integrity of the Parakamani process is vital not only for temple finances but also for preserving the trust of millions of devotees worldwide.

The CID investigation stems from a significant theft case reported in 2023, when an individual involved with Parakamani operations was apprehended stealing foreign currency. This incident subsequently evolved into a major political controversy.

Under the previous YSRCP government, the TTD board chaired by Karunakar Reddy accepted a controversial "compromise settlement" through a Lok Adalat. In this arrangement, the accused voluntarily donated properties to the TTD in what was presented as an act of atonement.

The High Court-mandated investigation specifically aims to examine the circumstances surrounding this settlement and scrutinize the roles of TTD officials and board members, essentially investigating potential systemic cover-up or collusion.

This notice to Karunakar Reddy has heightened political tensions in Andhra Pradesh. The ruling NDA alliance—comprising TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena—has strongly criticized the settlement, alleging that the former board deliberately protected the accused and compromised the temple's integrity.

Karunakar Reddy, a prominent YSRCP opposition leader, has firmly denied these accusations. He has challenged the government to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, arguing that the current CID probe is politically motivated. Reddy maintains that his board was responsible for apprehending the perpetrator and that accepting the properties constituted legitimate recovery of stolen assets—a decision transparently made through a board resolution.