The BJP Andhra unit has demanded action against Punjab National Bank (PNB) for not following proper procedures in transporting the gold belonging to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) which led to the seizure by the Static Surveillance Team of the Election Commission on Wednesday, April 17, a day before the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu.
The EC had siezed 1,381 kg gold, worth Rs 400 crore from a van which was later identified as TTD's gold.
The BJP alleged that the sentiments of Hindus were hurt in the fiasco, which was caused by PNB, and sought a probe by the Union Finance Ministry into the alleged lapses.
The gold was in a safe deposit with the Punjab National Bank and was being transported via Thiryvallur district back to the TTD treasury in Andhra Pradesh.
"Due to the bank official's error, the name of TTD has been tarnished across the nation, giving rise to speculations of gold worth Rs 400 crore," The New Indian Express quoted Bhanu Prakash as saying. Bhanu Prakash is also the former member of the TTD trust board.
On Wednesday evening, the EC authorities had seized the gold being transported in a van at Puduchatram village in Tiruvallur. After four persons, including the driver, were arrested for transporting the gold, they claimed that the gold belongs to TTD.
However, the TTD officials, who were not allegedly aware of the gold being brought back to its treasury, initially denied that it was their gold. Later, they confirmed to media that the gold belongs to them and that PNB had produced documents confirming that the same. They said that the gold was being transported back to its treasury after the expiry date of the safe deposit ended.
The BJP secretary alleged that the PNB did not notify the TTD about bringing back the gold. "It indicates that the authorities did not follow proper procedure in the process in returning such huge deposits of gold of Lord Venkateswara."