TTD Parakamani case: CID focussing on gathering scientific evidence

The special teams constituted by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the alleged theft of currency notes and other valuables from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) Parakamani (counting hall) are focussing on gathering scientific evidence.

Investigation officers are gathering the call data of the suspects, CCTV footage, and hard disks, says an officer who is monitoring the investigation.

“Five teams are working on gathering technical data of the Parakamani, suspected role of the Mutts, the Estates Department and other wings in the TTD. We are also focussing on the call data of the suspects,” he says.

“The role of the TTD’s Vigilance wing, the police, the Executive Officer, the Joint Executive Officer, and the officers and employees of different wings in the temple is being probed,” according to CID Director General Ravi Shankar Ayyanar.

A few teams are trying to nab the key suspect in the scam. “Once the main accused is arrested, we will get more evidence in the case,” says Mr. Ravi Shankar, who has reviewed the investigation by camping in Tirupati for two days.

“As part of the investigation, we will question the officers and staff, and try to get details of the devotees who offered cash, jewellery and other valuables to the temple,” he told The Hindu on Thursday.

It may be recalled that a head clerk in the Pedda Jeeyangar Mutt and a Parakamani volunteer, C.V. Ravi Kumar, had been caught allegedly for stealing about US $900 in his undergarments in 2023.

Then TTD Board member and temple ex officio member had released the CCTV footage in which Mr. Ravi Kumar was caught red-handed, and the foreign currency recovered from his possession. It was alleged that the accused had amassed properties worth crores of rupees in Chennai, Tirupati and other cities.

The Tirumala police had registered a case then, which, however, was settled a few months later through a compromise in the Lok Adalat.

Responding to a petition, the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently ordered a fresh probe into the scam, and directed the CID to submit its report by December 2, 2025.