TTD board members release ‘proof’ of Parakamani scam, hail HC verdict to probe case afresh

Two members of the TTD Trust Board have released a video footage purportedly of the now-sensational ‘Parakamani scam’ that dates back to April 2023, while hailing the High Court of Andhra Pradesh verdict to rope in the CB-CID to probe the case afresh.

At a media conference here on Saturday, TTD board member and BJP State spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy and TTD Ex Officio member and TUDA Chairman C. Divakar Reddy released the CCTV footage from the surveillance cameras fixed at the Tirumala Parakamani (coins and currency notes counting centre).

It may be recalled that an accused, C.V. Ravi Kumar, had swindled away currency notes by concealing them in his undergarments on 29 April, 2023. Though he was caught in the act for stealing $11300 (₹9 lakh approximately), the FIR showed recovery of $900 only.

The TTD higher officials also found that the accused had amassed properties worth ₹100 crore by stealing wads of foreign currency notes several times in the past.

“Why the amount recovered shown is much lower than the actual quantity seized? Where is the rest of the money? Who are involved in this cover-up?” Mr. Bhanuprakash sought to know.

The case registered at the Tirumala police station was shifted to the Lok Adalat court, and a “compromise settlement formula” was reached after Mr. Ravi Kumar volunteered to “donate” seven properties worth ₹40 crore, all of them located in Tirupati and Chennai, in the name of the TTD in September 2023.

“Who authorised the TTD to approach the Lok Adalat for such a flawed settlement in a scam, where the properties are worth ₹100 crore? The TTD is merely a custodian to Lord Venkateswara’s properties and cannot act in an arbitrary manner,” Mr. Divakar Reddy said.

Responding to the High Court order to suspend the order of the Lok Adalat and reopen the case afresh by roping in the CB-CID, Mr. Bhanuprakash Reddy expressed the hope that justice would prevail once the “hidden stakeholders” in the scam were exposed.

‘Seizure of records’

Addressing the media in Tirumala, Mr. Bhanuprakash Reddy welcomed the oral orders of High Court in the case. The High Court on Friday clearly stated that it deemed appropriate to first suspend the order of the Lok Adalat of Tirupati until further orders and also felt it appropriate to suo motu implead the I-G, CB-CID, as a respondent in the case.

He further said the court also directed the seizure of the entire records pertaining to the case as well as those relating to the TTD Board resolutions, if any, and the proceedings made by any TTD official, and submit the same in a sealed cover for its perusal before the next hearing scheduled on October 13.

He also said that the TTDs Vigilance wing, in its report, made it clear that it was “forced to reach a compromise, unable to withstand the pressure from the police bosses.”

Alleging that several crores of rupees had been swindled in the Parakamani, the BJP leader said the fact that the accused had registered 13 flats in a single building in favor of the TTD vindicated his argument.