A startling ₹54 crore procurement scam, spanning a decade from 2015 to 2025, has rocked the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in Andhra Pradesh, as per media reports.
The controversy centres on a single contractor who allegedly supplied 100% polyester shawls and dupattas, billing them to the temple trust as expensive pure mulberry silk. The scam was uncovered when TTD Chairman BR Naidu initiated an internal vigilance inquiry, leading to samples being tested by the Central Silk Board.
Both testing laboratories confirmed the material was a cheap synthetic substitute, a clear violation of sacred and contractual norms. The TTD Trust Board has swiftly cancelled all existing contracts with the firm and has referred the entire matter to the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for a comprehensive criminal investigation against both the supplier and any TTD officials involved.
Tirupati Temple Silk Scam?
The dupattas, known as Pattu Vastralu, are an integral part of the temple’s sacred offerings. They are presented to major donors and visiting dignitaries during the Vedasirvachanam ritual at the Ranganayakula Mandapam, carrying deep spiritual and symbolic value. The specifications for these garments are highly stringent, reflecting their importance.
The tender documents clearly mandated that the fabric must be woven entirely from pure mulberry silk, using high-denier yarn, and must bear the mandatory silk hologram for authentication. Furthermore, the shawls were required to display sacred inscriptions like ‘Om Namo Venkatesaya’ in Sanskrit and Telugu, along with the temple’s symbols.
The alleged fraud only came to light recently after the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams board ordered a fresh audit and vigilance check to verify whether the supplied items adhered to these strict tender conditions. The initial probe quickly found that the authenticity checks had been repeatedly compromised, pointing towards a massive oversight or collusion, within the TTD’s procurement department that allowed the fraud to continue for ten years.
The recurring nature of such scandals, including previous high-profile issues like the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the sacred laddu prasadam, has now placed the TTD’s internal oversight mechanisms under intense national scrutiny.
The Anatomy of a ₹54 Crore Fraud
The vigilance inquiry revealed the stunning financial implications of the alleged conspiracy, estimating the total loss to the temple trust at over ₹54 crore. The core of the scam lay in the enormous difference between the genuine cost of the material and the price billed to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Officials estimate that a polyester shawl, which cost the supplier approximately ₹350 to procure, was being billed to the temple at an inflated rate of around ₹1,300 to ₹1,389 per piece. The contractor and its sister concerns, reportedly the sole suppliers of cloth to the TTD during this entire period, allegedly exploited the temple’s procurement chain for a decade.
Following the internal findings, samples were collected from temple godowns and ritual venues and sent for scientific analysis to two laboratories, including a facility under the esteemed Central Silk Board. Both independent tests returned the same damning result: the dupattas were composed of 100% polyester and not the pure mulberry silk that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams paid for.
Compounding the fraud, vigilance officers confirmed that the essential silk hologram, meant to be a basic authenticity check, was universally absent from the samples.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Chairman BR Naidu addressed the press, confirming the financial irregularity and the administration’s response, “A shawl that costs about ₹350 was being billed at ₹1,300. The total supplies would amount to more than ₹50 crore. We have asked for an ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) probe.” He asserted the board’s commitment to ensuring all those who defrauded the temple face criminal prosecution.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Such procurement frauds erode faith in institutions entrusted with sacred duties and public donations, demanding unwavering transparency and ethical governance.
TTD’s prompt referral to ACB shows promise, yet deeper reforms in auditing and vendor checks are essential to protect devotees’ sentiments and funds. Upholding integrity fosters harmony and trust across communities.
