Tirupati: ACB Seizes Gold and Cash in TTD Corruption Probe, City Marks Krishnashtami
The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Andhra Pradesh carried out raids on the premises of Mendu Lokanatham, Deputy Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, seizing 2 kg of gold and Rs 5 crore in cash. The case connects to an earlier disproportionate assets investigation targeting a personal assistant to the former TTD chairman.
🗳️ ACB Raids Tirumala Temple Official, Seizes Gold and Cash
The New Indian Express reported that Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau officers raided the properties of Mendu Lokanatham, the Deputy Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), seizing significant assets. Lokanatham serves as a senior administrative officer at the famous Tirumala hilltop temple, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world and administered by the government-run TTD board. According to the report, the raids also build upon a related disproportionate assets case registered in April 2026 against K Chinna Appanna, who served as Personal Assistant to former TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy. The overlapping nature of the two cases suggests investigators are examining a broader network of alleged corruption within the temple trust administration. The ACB action, reported on September 3, 2026, reflects ongoing scrutiny of financial irregularities at TTD, which manages enormous donations and assets collected from pilgrims visiting the shrine of Lord Venkateswara. The raids mark a significant escalation in accountability efforts targeting the trust that oversees one of Hinduism's most sacred pilgrimage destinations. [8]
Rs 5 Crore in Cash and 2 kg Gold Seized from TTD Deputy EO's Premises
The Times of India reported the specific scale of assets recovered during the Anti-Corruption Bureau raid on the Deputy Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Officers seized two kilograms of gold and Rs 5 crore in cash from the premises of the accused official. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is among the wealthiest religious institutions in India, receiving massive quantities of gold and cash donations from devotees each year. TTD officials, given their proximity to these vast resources, have historically attracted corruption investigations, and this latest raid reinforces concerns about the integrity of temple administration. The ACB conducted its search operations in Tirupati, the base city for the famous Tirumala temple located on the Seshachalam Hills. The Times of India, reporting from its Vijayawada bureau which covers Andhra Pradesh, described the September 2026 action as part of widening efforts to probe financial misconduct within the institution. The magnitude of cash and gold recovered points to what investigators characterize as assets disproportionate to the official's known income sources. [3]
🪔 Tirupati Gears Up for Krishnashtami Celebrations
The Hans India reported that Tirupati was making preparations for Krishnashtami celebrations, the annual festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna, also known as Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami. Tirupati, as a major Hindu pilgrimage city in Andhra Pradesh, traditionally marks significant religious occasions with community programs, bhajans, cultural events and special rituals. The Krishnashtami festival, observed on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada according to the Hindu calendar, holds deep significance across South India. In Tirupati and surrounding areas, temples and community organizations typically arrange celebrations including midnight pujas marking the birth hour of Lord Krishna, enactments of episodes from Krishna's life, and distribution of prasadam to devotees. The city's calendar of religious observances draws both locals and visiting pilgrims who time their travel to coincide with festival periods. The Hans India's coverage from Tirupati highlights how the city balances its identity as a centre of Vaishnavite worship at Tirumala with the broader spectrum of Hindu devotional life celebrated across the community. [10]
Sources: [8] The New Indian Express · [3] The Times of India · [10] The Hans India