Tirupati - A member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board has formally requested action against individuals implicated by a recently concluded one-man inquiry panel. This demand follows a series of investigations and allegations concerning financial and administrative improprieties within the temple trust, particularly related to the supply of ghee for the famous Tirupati laddus and a past 'Parakamani scam'.
The core of the current push centers on the findings of a one-man committee tasked with reviewing alleged administrative lapses during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) administration. This panel, constituted on February 20, 2026, with a 45-day mandate, was established after attempts via a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the CBI failed to yield definitive evidence against YSRCP leaders. The committee was directed to examine the SIT's findings and recommend administrative actions against erring officials.
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A TTD board member, identified as G Bhanu Prakash Reddy, has raised pointed questions regarding the swift resolution of the 'Parakamani scam' case in Lok Adalat. He noted that this case, involving the alleged theft of foreign currency from the TTD's cash-counting section, was settled within six months of a charge sheet being filed. Reddy contrasted this speed with the perceived slowness of the justice system for ordinary citizens, and questioned why a similar public review did not occur when a compromise deal was reached with the accused, C V Ravi Kumar, who was apprehended in April 2023.
The board member also stated his intention to conduct a thorough review of controversial decisions made by the previous TTD board, pending permission from the current TTD Chairman, BR Naidu. This move comes amidst accusations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pointing to the former TTD chairman, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, as the central figure in the 'Parakamani scam'. The BJP alleges that the former board erred by accepting tainted property from the accused, thereby facilitating a "safe exit" from legal entanglements.
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Ghee Adulteration Probe
The one-man panel's formation is intrinsically linked to the 'Tirupati Laddu row', which specifically pertains to the alleged use of adulterated ghee in the temple's iconic offerings. A CBI-led SIT had previously investigated the matter, leading to the arrest of four dairy chiefs, including former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy and CEOs/MDs from Vaishnavi Dairy and AR Dairy. These companies were found to be involved in supplying ghee confirmed to be adulterated with palmolein oil and chemicals. AR Dairy, in particular, faced accusations of multiple irregularities in its contract with TTD.
Political Undercurrents
The establishment of the one-man committee has not been without criticism. Former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy has labelled the committee a "political move," asserting that its constitution, despite an ongoing CBI-SIT inquiry, is intended to create a political narrative and target former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy, and himself. He also referenced a past instance of a similar one-man commission established following a stampede incident, which he claimed yielded no meaningful outcomes.
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Background:
The TTD, responsible for the administration of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, has been subject to heightened scrutiny following multiple allegations. These investigations touch upon financial irregularities, including the 'Parakamani scam', and issues of product quality, such as the adulterated ghee scandal impacting the preparation of TTD laddus. The recent actions underscore a period of administrative re-evaluation and political posturing within the context of temple governance in Andhra Pradesh.
