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TTD Theft Case Deepens: Ex-Chairman Questioned Amid Mysterious Death

The Parakamani theft case investigation has taken a serious turn with former TTD chairman Subba Reddy appearing before the Special Investigation Team. This comes amid the mysterious death of key witness Satish Kumar, who was found dead on railway tracks after reporting the theft. The case involves a temple employee who stole $920 but later donated properties worth Rs 40 crore to settle the matter. The High Court ordered the SIT probe after challenging the unusual Lok Adalat settlement that closed the original theft case.

Key Points: Ex TTD Chairman Subba Reddy Appears Before Parakamani SIT

  • Former TTD chairman Subba Reddy questioned by CID chief Ravi Shankar Ayyanar
  • Employee Ravi Kumar gifted seven properties worth Rs 40 crore
  • Key witness Satish Kumar found dead under mysterious circumstances
  • High Court ordered SIT probe after challenging Lok Adalat settlement
  • Theft case involved $920 stolen from temple hundi counting center
  • Multiple former TTD officials and police officers being investigated
2 min read

Parakamani theft case: Ex TTD chairman Subba Reddy appears before SIT

Former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy appears before SIT investigating Parakamani theft case amid mysterious death of key witness and Rs 40 crore property settlement.

"Satish Kumar had caught Ravi Kumar stealing the money while counting the hundi collections - Investigation Records"

Vijayawada, Nov 28

Former TTD chairman and YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader Y. V.

Subba Reddy on Friday appeared before the SIT probing the Parakamani theft case at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala. Additional Director General, CID, Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, who is heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT), was questioning Subba Reddy at the CID office in Vijayawada.

Subba Reddy was chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) when TTD employee Ravi Kumar gifted seven properties to the temple after the theft case was settled in Lok Adalat.

Former TTD chairman and former MLA B. Karunakar Reddy had appeared before SIT on November 25. He was TTD chairman when the theft case was registered.

The SIT launched the probe after the High Court issued orders on the petition challenging the closure of the Parakamani theft case in the Lok Adalat.

Ravi Kumar, an employee of TTD, was caught while stealing $920 from Parakamani (coins and currency notes counting centre) in April 2023.

The theft case registered at the Tirumala police station was transferred to the Lok Adalat, where a compromise settlement formula was reached in September 2023 after Ravi Kumar volunteered to donate seven properties worth Rs 40 crore, all of them located in Tirupati and Chennai, in the name of the TTD.

Recently, a petition was filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court alleging that there was no investigation into the theft case as the then-governing board of TTD had closed the case after a settlement in the Lok Adalat. Petitioner Macherla Sreenivas had challenged the closure of the case.

The SIT recently questioned former police officers and TTD officials as part of the investigation.

Jaganmohan Reddy, who was Circle Inspector (CI) of Police at Tirumala One Town Police Station when the case was registered in 2023, and other officials appeared before the SIT.

A former Assistant Vigilance and Security Officer (AVSO) of the TTD and complainant in the theft case, Y. Satish Kumar, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on the railway tracks at Komali village near Tadipatri in Anantapur district on November 14. Postmortem revealed that he had been hit on the back of his head with a sharp object.

Satish Kumar had caught Ravi Kumar stealing the money while counting the hundi collections.

The High Court last week ordered police to provide security to Sreenivas, on whose petition the court ordered an investigation.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
When it comes to Tirumala temple matters, there should be zero tolerance for corruption. A TTD employee stealing from hundi and then donating properties worth 40 crore? Something doesn't add up. Full support to SIT investigation!
A
Aditya G
Why was a criminal case transferred to Lok Adalat? This sets a dangerous precedent. If someone can settle theft cases by donating properties, what's the point of having laws? 🤔
S
Sarah B
The death of the complainant under mysterious circumstances is the most alarming part. Hope the investigation also looks into this properly. Justice must be served for Satish Kumar.
K
Karthik V
As a regular devotee to Tirumala, this news is disturbing. The temple administration should be above board in all matters. Hope this investigation brings transparency and reforms in TTD functioning.
M
Michael C
While I appreciate the court's intervention, I hope this doesn't become another political witch-hunt. The focus should be on systemic reforms to prevent such incidents in future, not just targeting individuals.
N
Nisha Z
A TTD employee having properties worth 40 crore? That itself raises red flags! How did he acquire so much wealth? This investigation should go deeper into the source of these properties. 🚩

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