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Tirumala Temple Theft Mystery: Why Ex-TTD Chairman Faces SIT Summons

The Special Investigation Team has summoned former TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy in the Parakamani theft case. This comes after the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered a fresh probe into the temple donation theft. The case took a dark turn when the key witness who caught the thief was found dead under mysterious circumstances. The SIT is now investigating why the case was closed through a Lok Adalat settlement.

Key Points: SIT Summons Former TTD Chairman in Parakamani Theft Case

  • Former TTD Chairman summoned during his tenure when theft occurred
  • Employee caught stealing ₹920, later donated ₹40 crore properties
  • Key witness found dead under mysterious circumstances on railway tracks
  • High Court ordered security for petitioner challenging case closure
  • SIT seized records and questioned former police officers
  • Case transferred to Lok Adalat with compromise settlement
3 min read

Parakamani theft case: SIT summons former TTD Chairman

Former TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy summoned by SIT in Tirumala temple theft case. High Court orders probe after mysterious death of key witness.

"The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a detailed inquiry into the case - SIT Notice"

Tirupati, Nov 25

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Parakamani theft case at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala has issued notice to former TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy, directing him to appear before it to record his statement.

Karunakar Reddy was the Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) when the theft case was registered.

Director General, CID, Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, who is heading the SIT, has served the notice, which mentions that the Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a detailed inquiry into the case.

The notice also mentions that Karunakar Reddy was present during the TTD Board meeting held in connection with the Parakamani issue.

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.

Last month, the SIT had visited Parakamani at the famous hill shrine and seized the records pertaining to the case registered at Tirumala One Town Police Station.

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
An employee steals $920 but then "volunteers" to donate properties worth Rs 40 crore? Something doesn't add up here. This smells like a much bigger scam that's being covered up. The SIT should investigate the entire chain of command.
S
Sarah B
As someone who visits Tirumala regularly, this is very disturbing. The temple administration needs complete overhaul. Devotees' offerings should be handled with utmost integrity. Hope justice prevails for Satish Kumar who was just doing his duty.
A
Arjun K
The timing is suspicious - why close the case in Lok Adalat? And now the key witness is dead. This looks like someone powerful is involved. The former Chairman must answer why the case was hurriedly closed during his tenure.
M
Michael C
While I appreciate the investigation, let's not jump to conclusions. The legal process should be allowed to complete. The High Court's intervention shows our judiciary is working. Let's trust the SIT to do their job properly.
K
Kavya N
This is heartbreaking 💔 Tirumala temple is not just any institution - it's the abode of Lord Venkateswara. The fact that security had to be provided to the petitioner shows how dangerous this case has become. Justice for Satish Kumar!
V
Vikram M

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