TTD Scandal Deepens: Silk Dupatta Scam of ₹54 Crore Triggers Parallel Probe

A series of internal scandals has shaken the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), India’s wealthiest temple institution, exposing systemic vulnerabilities in treasury operations, food preparation oversight, and procurement processes. What began with a theft incident in 2023 has now expanded into a multi-layered integrity crisis involving allegations of laddu adulteration and a ₹54 crore silk dupatta procurement scam stretching across a decade.

Concerns first surfaced in April 2023, when a clerk associated with a mutt on the temple premises was caught stealing donations from the revered Srivari Hundi. The episode, now labeled the Parakamani case, raised questions about lapses in a counting system traditionally considered one of the most secure in India. Temple authorities initially treated it as an isolated breach, but it set off a sequence of controversies pointing to deeper structural weaknesses.

In September 2024, TTD found itself at the center of a politically charged storm when allegations emerged that laddus distributed to millions of devotees could contain adulterated ghee or even animal fat. The claim triggered a forensic audit supervised by a CBI-led Special Investigation Team tasked with examining the supply chain and contractor relationships behind the temple’s highly mechanised prasadam production. The probe widened rapidly and forced the temple administration to defend the sanctity of its processes.

Amid these ongoing inquiries, vigilance officials uncovered a far more extensive procurement irregularity involving pattu vastralu silk dupattas traditionally offered to devotees or used in rituals. A contractor reportedly supplied nearly 15,000 dupattas at ₹1,389 each, claiming they were silk. Laboratory testing, including analysis by the Central Silk Board, confirmed that the materials were polyester, not silk. Preliminary estimates suggest that the irregularities may have persisted from 2015 to 2025, causing losses exceeding ₹54 crore.

TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu acknowledged major discrepancies and handed the case to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for comprehensive investigation. The revelation heightened public concern, arriving so soon after the laddu controversy and treasury case, and drew attention to the longstanding procurement relationships that may have enabled such manipulation to continue unchecked.

As multiple scandals converge, the institution finds itself under extraordinary scrutiny. With tens of thousands of daily visitors, massive donation inflows and expansive procurement mechanisms, TTD operates within a unique administrative environment where spiritual trust intersects with complex financial systems.

The emerging pattern of lapses - from alleged food adulteration to polyester dupattas sold as silk - has prompted calls for stronger oversight, transparent processes and modern compliance frameworks to restore confidence in one of India’s most revered religious establishments.

To strengthen accountability and prevent long-term procurement irregularities, institutions increasingly rely on accurate financial systems supported by professional bookkeeping services in india