Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: In the latest blow to the reputation of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple trust managing the renowned Lord Venkateshwara shrine in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, has ordered a comprehensive investigation by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) into an alleged ₹54 crore fraud involving shawl procurement over the last decade, officials confirmed.

The move comes after an internal inquiry conducted by TTD’s Chief Vigilance and Security Officer revealed serious irregularities in the supply of shawls between 2015 and 2025. According to G Bhanuprakash Reddy, a TTD trust board member, the contractors responsible for the shawls, allegedly in collusion with certain officials, supplied 100% polyester shawls while billing them as pure mulberry silk, as specified in the tender documents.

The TTD board, in a meeting held on October 28, decided to request a detailed inquiry by the ACB and take appropriate action against the suppliers. The board resolution was made public this week. Reddy added that a team of officials from the Union Ministry of Textiles visited Tirumala last month, conducted an independent investigation, and submitted a confidential report confirming the irregularities.

The controversy is particularly sensitive because it involves the Melchat Vastram, the sacred silk cloth used to adorn the presiding deity after Abhishekam (anointment). Reddy said, “What is worse, there were reports that the Melchat Vastram was also made of polyester during the previous regime. There is nothing more blasphemous than this.” The matter is expected to be discussed further at the next TTD board meeting scheduled for December 16.

TTD board chairman B R Naidu told reporters after the October 28 meeting that the procurement of shawls was done at highly inflated rates under the previous administration. “A shawl that costs ₹350-400 in the open market was bought for ₹1,334. Over the past four to five years, materials worth nearly ₹50 crore were procured. We have found significant corruption in the process. Now, the ACB will take it up,” he said.

According to TTD sources, the shawls were procured from VRS Export, Nagari, and its affiliates Tirumala Fabrics, Nanna Cottages, and VM Raja Powerloom. In total, shawls worth ₹54.95 crore were purchased from these suppliers between 2015 and 2025.

This scandal comes on the heels of the Tirupati ghee adulteration controversy, a major ongoing case in which a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the supply of adulterated ghee to TTD between 2019 and 2024. The SIT, which includes members from the CBI and FSSAI, has uncovered that a Uttarakhand-based dairy supplied an estimated 68 lakh kg of adulterated ghee worth ₹250 crore, which was used to prepare the sacred Tirupati temple laddus (prasadam). Several dairy owners, representatives, and TTD officials have been arrested, including a senior official allegedly involved in suppressing lab reports that confirmed the adulteration.

The shawl procurement scam has shocked devotees and the public alike, as it involves items used in daily religious rituals and temple ceremonies. While the monetary loss is substantial, the blow to religious sentiments could be even greater, given the sacred nature of the items involved.

The TTD board has emphasized that the ACB inquiry will be thorough and is expected to examine the role of both suppliers and officials, including any collusion that facilitated the fraudulent procurement. The board’s resolution also signals a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in temple management, aligning with wider efforts to restore public trust in one of India’s most visited and revered religious institutions.

As the investigation unfolds, the TTD board has reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and proper conduct in all procurement and administrative activities, and to taking strict action against those found guilty.

This latest case adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding temple management, highlighting the need for stringent oversight of financial transactions and supply chains, especially when they involve items with religious and cultural significance.