Major silk shawl scam uncovered at TTD, polyester sold as premium silk

Allegations of misconduct at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) are raising concerns among devotees, as a new scam involving silk shawls has come to light. Following earlier controversies over the management of prasadam and other irregularities, it has now been revealed that TTD purchased polyester shawls worth ₹54.95 crore over a decade, claiming them to be traditional silk offered to devotees during blessings.

An internal TTD vigilance inquiry found that from 2015 to 2025, almost all silk shawl supplies were controlled by a single vendor. Laboratory tests conducted in Bengaluru and Dharmavaram confirmed that the shawls were not genuine mulberry silk but polyester. The supplier failed to meet tender requirements regarding silk quality, zari workmanship, weight, and design, according to the vigilance report.

The scam came to light during a recent proposal to purchase 21,600 silk shawls. Board members became suspicious and instructed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CVSO) to verify the quality of shawls in stock. Samples sent to two independent labs confirmed they were synthetic.

Further suspicions arose because previous samples from the same stock had been approved by a lab in Kanchipuram. Vigilance officials are investigating whether samples were switched or if there were lapses at the lab level.

The CVSO report recommends criminal action against those responsible, noting that this scam may have continued for over a decade, causing an estimated loss of nearly ₹54 crore to the temple. Normally, a silk shawl costs around ₹350, but invoices showed charges of ₹1,300 each.

In response, the TTD board convened an emergency meeting, immediately canceling current tenders and referring the case to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Future tenders will be conducted with complete transparency.

The investigation will also examine whether internal TTD officials colluded with the supplier and if other irregularities exist in past transactions. The scandal has sparked widespread discussion among devotees, highlighting the urgent need for stricter oversight in India’s wealthiest temple administration.