TTD row: PIL filed in Hyd HC demanding CBI inquiry into ‘missing jewels’ in Tirumala

The petitioner said that the TTD should dispel anxiety among the public and allow the CBI inquiry.
TTD row: PIL filed in Hyd HC demanding CBI inquiry into ‘missing jewels’ in Tirumala
TTD row: PIL filed in Hyd HC demanding CBI inquiry into ‘missing jewels’ in Tirumala

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the alleged missing jewels in Tirumala, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Hyderabad High Court on Friday by a Guntur-based financial consultant.   

Anil Kumar Borugadda from Guntur along with another petitioner, Bhupendra Goswami from Gujarat, have filed the petition questioning the intentions of the alleged digging work in the kitchen of the temple, which allegedly destroyed the inscriptions on the kitchen walls.

The petitioners raised suspicion of the kitchen being dug up till the treasure room. Alleging vandalism, they also objected to the gold plating of the temple gopuram which would have destroyed the inscriptions on it.

Speaking to TNM, Anil Kumar said, “We are totally shocked by the revelations made by former chief priest Ramana Deekshithulu. If the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) did not indulge in any fishy activity, why don’t they allow a CBI inquiry? I am speaking on behalf of all Indians. Tirumala is a holy temple. We are concerned about our heritage structure and the allegations of the missing jewellery.”

He added, “I am not talking in support of Ramana Deekshithulu. Besides him, several others like Pawan Kalyan and Congress party have also raised suspicions about the missing jewels. So, I took it upon myself and filed the case. The CBI should conduct a detailed inquiry into this and dispel the anxiety of the public.”

Anil Kumar further alleged that because of questioning the TTD, he is being labelled as a fraudster with a criminal background.

“A pro-government TV channel has accused me of being a criminal. I filed a defamation case against it. I am a normal citizen with good intensions,” Anil said.  

In May, Ramana Deekshithulu, the former chief priest of TTD, made a shocking claim that several old precious jewels were missing from Tirumala. He also alleged financial irregularities by the TTD, besides stating that the TTD authorities with scant regard for the heritage monument were vandalising it.

He demanded that the TTD should be brought under the ambit of RTI for transparency in its functioning.

Following his allegations, he was sacked from the TTD on grounds of exceeding the retirement age of 65. However, Deekshithulu continued making the allegations, inviting a Rs 100 crore defamation suit from the TTD.

Backing Deekshithulu, Jana Sena Party chief actor Pawan Kalyan also recently alleged that the temple jewels were smuggled to a Middle East country in a private carrier.

While the TTD authorities have rubbished the allegations made by Deekshithulu, they were reluctant to show the precious ornaments donated over the centuries, claiming that the Agama Shastra doesn’t permit them to put the ornaments on display.

However, just days ago, TTD chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav informed reporters that all the jewellery would be put on display for the media soon, so that they can see the deliberate misinformation being spread by Deekshitulu.

Earlier this week, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Hyderabad High Court Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan demanding a probe by a sitting judge, into the row. 

Naidu requested the sitting judge to look into the allegations and go through the records before making the final report public. 

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