Tirumala Now Rocked by ₹54-Crore Silk Dupatta Scam After Fake Ghee, Donation Theft Rows

On: December 11, 2025 10:10 AM

Following complaints of a huge Rs 54-crore silk dupatta purchase scandal, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) administration has directed an inquiry into the matter, amid earlier scandals involving fake ghee distribution and the misappropriation of donations to the temple, which is thought to have the largest congregation in the country. The irregularities, according to officials, are associated with the massive buying of silk offerings made available for temple rituals and distributed to adherents.

Irregularities in Procurement Flagged

There is early evidence indicating that the temple administration might have paid vastly inflated prices for ceremonial silk dupattas, purchased over many years. The products, traditionally bought in large quantities for various religious practices and special darshan arrangements, were obtained through contractors who are also reportedly associated with the ongoing investigation.

According to the officials, the issue was identified when the internal audit checks raised the alarm due to the unusually high procurement cost, and the question of pricing, tendering, and quality assessment processes came into question. The management has also initiated collecting documents to check vendors, supply quantity, and billing data.

Temple Board Orders Investigation

The temple board has therefore initiated an inquiry into the approval of contracts and supplier credentials following the allegations. Top officials will assess whether the set procurement standards were adhered to and whether appropriate checks were conducted.

The board has asserted that it would take stern measures if the allegations were established and tighten procurement procedures. An initial report has been ordered to be submitted by a committee in the near future, and then additional administrative action will be taken.

Fresh Controversy After Previous Supply Scandals

The accusations are several months after previous scandals over fraudulent ghee distributed as temple laddus and alleged theft of donations to the temple by visitors. In such instances, the management had been compelled to justify procurement procedures and transparency which assured the devotees and the people that action was being taken to correct the situation.

The recent accusations have sparked new attacks by opposition parties and devotee groups, who claim that the recurring scandals are tarnishing the reputation of one of India’s most sacred temples. They have insisted that the state government ought to oversee the investigation and hold them accountable.

Political Reaction and Devotees’ Concerns

The opposition leaders accuse the officials of failing to preserve the resources of temples and are demanding an independent investigation. Several organizations representing followers added that the temple’s large revenues and donations should be better supervised by a more effective mechanism, and that audits should be conducted regularly. They claim that procurement and tendering need to be exposed to real-time transparency to ensure it is not manipulated and misused.

The administration at the temple asserts that most activities still take place in accordance with the procedures, and isolated instances should not come to light and undermine the institution’s service history. The investigation is being conducted urgently, according to the officials, to ensure public trust.

What Happens Next

The inquiry team is supposed to check invoices, vendor authorization, price documents, and supply chain reports. If the wrongdoing is confirmed, the board can recommend more serious procurement reforms and severe disciplinary measures.

At least for now, the accusations are another blow to a temple that welcomes millions of worshipers annually and handles large financial transactions. As the level of scrutiny increases, the result of the investigation is highly likely to be closely monitored by authorities and religious groups.