Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal on Monday sought to clear the air on the controversial transportation of TTD’s gold deposit in Chennai on April 19, leading to its seizure by the election officials.
“Punjab National Bank officials should take total responsibility for the seizure of the gold,” Mr. Singhal said.
The EO’s clarification assumes importance in the wake of Chief Secretary L.V. Subramanyam ordering an inquiry into the entire episode and assigning the task to Special Chief Secretary Manmohan Singh.
Addressing a press conference at Tirupati, the EO said under the gold deposit scheme, 1,381 kg of the yellow metal had been deposited with the PNB at 1.75% interest. The three-year term had ended on April 18. “The PNB’s concern was taking the gold, including the 70 kg purchased from Switzerland, to Tirupati from Chennai, where it was seized by election officials,” he said.
The EO contended that it was the sole responsibility of the PNB to safeguard the gold from its deposit till its handing over to TTD. He said the Income Tax officials had served notices to TTD on the issue. “We rushed to Chennai and furnished details pertaining to the gold deposit to the TN police and election officials. On April 20, the gold (1,381 kg) was handed over to the TTD treasury,” he said. Mr. Singhal said TTD had a total of 9,259 kg of gold with it.
The issue assumed political hue with leaders of various parties alleging negligence on the part of TTD, and expressing fears about the safety of the gold.
