In a packed courtroom where even whispers carried weight, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday directed a fresh, top-level investigation into an alleged cover-up surrounding a theft of dollar offerings at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Parakamani section. Justice Gannamaneni Ramakrishna Prasad expressed visible concern at what he termed a “serious lapse” and “possible connivance” among TTD officials, police, and others involved in the handling of the case.
Background
The case stems from a complaint filed in April 2023, alleging that a Parakamani supervisor, C.V. Ravi Kumar, had stolen currency donated by devotees. While a police case was registered, the accused was charged only under minor, easily compoundable theft provisions. Soon after, Ravi Kumar and his wife donated immovable properties worth around ₹14.5 crore to TTD—donations that were accepted without the usual mandatory public notification period.
What raised further eyebrows was how quickly the criminal case was compounded in court through a compromise, with the complainant reportedly lacking any legal authority to do so.
Court’s Observations
Justice Prasad stated that the court had personally reviewed 16 sealed bundles of investigation material and found troubling inconsistencies. “The omission to add the offence under Section 409 IPC, which relates to criminal breach of trust by a public servant, is not a mere oversight,” the bench observed, adding that such an offence cannot be legally compromised at all.
The judge also noted how swiftly the case moved: charge sheet filed one day, cognizance the next, and compromise immediately thereafter. He remarked, “This Court has noticed a complete compromise in approach by the Investigating Officer and the officials concerned, indicating a possible attempt to quietly close the matter.”
Another significant issue was the acceptance of expensive property gifts from the accused while the theft case was still active, and without public disclosure. The court pointed out that not only was due process skipped, but the TTD Board’s approval appeared limited to a signature from the Chairman alone, with no supporting resolutions.
Decision
Concluding that the situation requires “serious probe,” the Court issued multiple directions:
- CID (DGP rank officer) to reinvestigate the theft case, including the roles of TTD officials and investigating agencies.
- ACB (DGP rank officer) to examine the assets of the accused and his family to determine whether they match lawful sources of income.
- The Court transferred the question of the Lok Adalat compromise’s legality to a Division Bench for further review.
- The Presiding Magistrate who handled the compromise will face administrative scrutiny and be relieved of protocol duties.
- All sealed bundles of evidence were ordered to be handed safely to CID.
The matter will now come up again on December 2, 2025, when the investigative reports are expected to be submitted.
The article ends here per requirement.
Case: AP High Court Orders High-Level Probe in TTD Parakamani Theft & Compromise Case
Court: Andhra Pradesh High Court, Amaravati
Judge: Justice G.R. Prasad
Case: Writ Petition No. 1294 of 2025
Petitioner: M. Sreenivasulu
Respondents: State of Andhra Pradesh & Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials