Civil society reacts strongly to TTD Parakamani controversy
The recent irregularities reported in the Parakamani (donation counting) process at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) have triggered nationwide outrage among devotees. Telangana BJP president Ramachander Rao said the scandal has shaken the faith of millions of devotees who contribute selflessly to the temple.
Speaking at a press meet held at the Tirupati Press Club on Sunday, he warned that treating the issue lightly would be a grave mistake. “Faith and devotion are the foundation of the TTD. Any breach of trust here is not a small matter,” he said. Rao emphasized that returning stolen money does not erase the crime and called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation.
He suggested reforms to make the Parakamani process fully transparent - starting from staff selection to live CCTV monitoring - and urged the use of modern technology to ensure accountability. Rao also commended TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash for bringing the issue to public attention.
Reactions from prominent citizens
Justice L. Narasimha Reddy (Retd. High Court judge): Describing the incident as more than just a financial crime, he said, “This is not only a violation of law - it is an assault on faith itself.” He demanded strict punishment for those responsible and called for an impartial, transparent probe.
Subrahmanyam (Former Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh): He remarked that even minor irregularities in temple finances must not be tolerated. “Negligence in managing divine wealth is unacceptable,” he said, stressing the need for modern technology and strong oversight in TTD’s accounting system.
Chilkur Rangarajan Swamy (Chilkur temple priest): He stated that the temple’s wealth belongs solely to devotees. “Anyone who misuses divine funds is not merely a criminal, but a betrayer of dharma,” he said. He demanded that Parakamani cou nting be made live and visible to the public.
J.D. Lakshminarayana (Former CBI officer): He insisted that such cases should not be dismissed as “system failures” but viewed as “betrayal of devotees’ trust.” He urged the TTD to introduce a public disclosure system to track how donations are used.
Current status of the investigation
The CID began its probe on October 13, 2025, under the supervision of CID DGP Dr. A. Ravishankar Ayyanar. The investigation team visited th e Parakamani comp lex in Tirumala and seized key documents, including TTD board resolutions, Lok Adalat records, CCTV footage, and case files from the Tirumala One Town Police Station.
Next steps
The TTD Board is scheduled to meet on October 28 to review the ongoing case and consider the petitioner’s demand for a deeper inquiry.
Background and preliminary findings
The controversy dates back to April 2023, when TTD employee Ravi Kumar was caught stealing foreign currency (US dollars) during the counting process. While records showed a theft of about USD 900 (approximately ₹72,000), later allegations claimed that the theft actually involved gold, foreign currency, and assets worth over ₹100 crore.
The case was initially settled through Lok Adalat in September 2023, but fresh allegations prompted High Court intervention and a CID investigation in 2025. The High Court has reportedly expressed displeasure over delays in implementing its orders.
In essence, civil society leaders have demanded complete transparency in handling temple donations, live public monitoring of counting operations, and stringent punishment for those involved in misappropriating devotees’ offerings.