Tirumala hit by new ₹54-crore silk dupatta scam, probe handed to ACB

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is facing yet another controversy, with vigilance teams reportedly uncovering a major scam in the procurement of silk dupattas over the past decade. According to reports, large-scale irregularities took place between 2015 and 2025, causing an estimated loss of more than ₹54 crore.

According to reports, officials said a contractor had been supplying nearly 15,000 dupattas priced at ₹1,389 each, claiming they were made of silk. However, samples sent to two laboratories including the Central Silk Board reportedly confirmed that the material was polyester rather than silk, indicating that the products were misrepresented for years.

TTD Chairman B R Naidu stated that discrepancies had been noticed in the purchasing wing and that the matter had been referred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for a detailed investigation. “We have identified certain lapses in procurement and handed the probe over to the ACB,” he said.

This development comes in the wake of earlier controversies at Tirumala. In September 2024, allegations surfaced regarding adulteration in the preparation of the temple’s sacred laddu prasadam. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister had claimed that the ghee used in the laddus might be impure or mixed with animal fat, prompting the formation of a Special Investigation Team monitored by the CBI to examine the supply chain.

Another case popularly known as the Parakamani theft incident dates back to April 29, 2023. In that case, a clerk associated with a temple-run mutt, identified as C V Ravi Kumar, was arrested for allegedly stealing money offered by devotees in the Srivari Hundi donation box. Prosecutors said the theft involved funds meant as offerings at the shrine.

With the newly exposed dupatta procurement fraud, TTD is once again under scrutiny, and further revelations are expected as the investigation progresses.