Two former TTD officials favour CBI probe

‘Security system of jewels safe, strong’

B.V. Ramana Kumar

The controversies surrounding the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) came to the fore again on Sunday when two senior officials prominently associated with the temple management in the past favoured a thorough probe by the CBI into the allegations.

B.V. Ramana Kumar, ex-DIG who probed and submitted a report on 300 gold dollars going missing in the temple during his stint as the TTD’s Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CV&SO), told the media that only an inquiry by the CBI would reveal the true hand of former head priest A.V. Ramana Dikshitulu into the various controversial activities.

Dikshitulu blamed

Mr. Kumar, whose report mentioning the ‘pink diamond going missing’ recently hit headlines, clarified that two head priests had brought to his notice that the exotic gem had gone missing, based on which he had merely incorporated it in his report. He put the blame on Mr. Dikshitulu for misrepresenting the fact. He also accused Mr. Dikshitulu of having diverted a donation made by a Gujarati devotee into his personal account, adding that the then Executive Officer K.V. Ramanachari had chastised him without however initiating any action.

“The security system of the jewels is safe and strong, compared to the past, when access to the antique jewels was vested with only one employee,” he said.

IYR’s take

At a meeting organised by the Jana Chaitanya Vedika on ‘Decentralisation of development’, I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, retired Chief Secretary and also former TTD’s Executive Officer, welcomed the demand for the CBI probe, as the allegations were made by none other than a senior priest associated with the temple for several decades.

Going by the gravity of the allegations made by Mr. Dikshitulu such as a pit dug near the potu (kitchen), missing precious jewels and undue pressure by officials on the priests, Mr. Krishna Rao felt that an investigation would not damage the reputation of the shrine.

“TTD trust board member Sekhar Reddy was removed after his role surfaced in a financial scam. The nomination of an MLA to the board was withdrawn soon after her affiliation to another faith came to the fore. Did they not damage the reputation?”, he wondered.