Andhra Pradesh High Court orders CID probe into theft of money offered to the Tirumala temple

The Andhra Pradesh High Court (HC) on Monday (October 27, 2025) ordered a CID probe into the alleged theft of money, including foreign currency, from the offerings made to Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala temple in 2023.

The theft from the TTD’s coffers took place during the counting process (Parakamani) in 2023. Later, the issue was settled by those involved in the Lok Adalat, Tirupati.

However, this was strongly condemned by the Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Perishad, which accused the Lok Adalat Presiding Officer and it’s members of “recording a fraudulent compromise”.

The High Court, on October 27, 2025, also directed that the manner in which the case has been settled in the Lok Adalat, Tirupati, purportedly against norms, should be examined and a report submitted before the next hearing, which is scheduled for December 2.

Taking a serious view of the apparent hushing up of facts, the HC said the theft should be investigated by a CID officer of the Director General rank, while calling for ascertaining the role of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials in the whole affair.

Further, the court instructed that the probe should duly encompass an assessment of the properties of the prime accused, Ravi Kumar, in order to find if he indeed committed the offence and the involvement of others.