The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), custodian of the world-renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh, has been struck by yet another controversy — this time involving a massive fraud in the procurement of silk shawls used in sacred temple rituals. After facing scandals involving adulterated ghee and alleged theft of foreign currency from the temple hundi, the TTD has now uncovered a ₹54-crore scam linked to shawl supplies meant for the temple’s traditional ‘aashirvachan’ ceremony.

According to officials, a vendor entrusted with supplying pure silk shawls has instead been providing polyester dupattas for years. These shawls hold religious significance as they are draped on devotees during blessings at the hill shrine. Following internal investigations, the TTD has sought a full-fledged probe by the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), marking yet another instance of malpractice in one of India’s most revered religious institutions.

How the Shawl Scam Came to Light

TTD officials grew suspicious after observing that the shawls being supplied in recent consignments did not resemble authentic silk. This prompted deeper scrutiny. Preliminary checks confirmed that the material felt and looked different from the silk traditionally used.

To verify their suspicions, the trust sent fabric samples for laboratory testing in two locations — Dharmavaram in Sri Satya Sai district, a region known for its handloom industry, and Bengaluru. The lab results were unequivocal: the fabric failed all tender specifications and bore no resemblance to the silk mandated under the procurement contract. Instead, the samples were found to be inferior polyester material, indicating a long-running supply of substandard shawls.

Internal Inquiry Reveals Extended Fraud

Following the test results, TTD’s vigilance wing initiated an internal inquiry in November. The inquiry uncovered that the vendor had allegedly passed off polyester dupattas as costly silk shawls over an extended period, amounting to financial irregularities exceeding ₹54 crore.

Investigators also examined the vendor’s financial transactions and procurement patterns, compiling a detailed report for the TTD board. The findings point toward systematic deception and possible collusion, though no officials have been named yet. The board has now forwarded the case to the ACB, which is expected to independently verify the transactions, examine possible loopholes in the procurement process, and determine if internal complicity played a role.

Recent History of Scandals at Tirumala

The discovery of the shawl scam is the third major controversy in less than two years for the country’s richest Hindu trust:

1. Ghee Adulteration Case

In September last year, TTD lodged a complaint against a Tamil Nadu–based dairy company for allegedly supplying ghee adulterated with animal fat. The ghee is used in preparing the famous Tirupati laddu prasadam, which holds immense religious and cultural significance. Lab reports then had revealed the presence of non-vegetarian adulterants, triggering public outrage and leading to police action.

2. Hundi Currency Theft

Earlier this year, the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department began probing the suspected theft of foreign currency donated in the temple’s hundi. Investigators suspected that a clerk at the Parakamani counting centre siphoned off foreign notes over time. The case raised questions about internal monitoring and transparency within the temple administration.

TTD’s Next Steps

TTD has now officially requested the state government to hand over the shawl procurement case to the ACB, signaling the seriousness of the alleged fraud. Based on past precedents and the scale of the irregularities, the investigation is expected to focus on:

• Whether the vendor acted alone or in collusion with insiders
• Why quality checks failed to detect the substandard shawls earlier
• Financial trails that indicate how payments for silk quality were made despite inferior supplies
• Possible systemic gaps in TTD’s procurement processes

The TTD board is also likely to tighten its tendering and auditing mechanisms to prevent such incidents in the future. The issue has already stirred concerns among devotees and donors, many of whom regard offerings to the temple as a matter of religious sanctity.

A Pattern of Eroding Trust

Tirumala’s repeated brushes with controversy have raised questions about oversight and governance at one of India’s most deeply revered religious institutions. While the TTD has consistently taken action after irregularities surface, critics argue that preventive mechanisms remain weak.

With the magnitude of the shawl scam now emerging, the ACB’s investigation will be critical not only in fixing accountability but also in restoring trust among millions of devotees across India and abroad. The temple, which receives massive donations each day, operates under intense public scrutiny — and every scandal chips away at the faith devotees place in the institution’s management.

As the probe progresses, the TTD will need to demonstrate transparency, strengthen internal controls, and ensure that ritual-related items