Coalition leaders have deliberately resurrected the Tirumala Parakamani theft episode to divert public anger away from mass protests against the privatization of government medical colleges. An old 2023 video is being circulated selectively to manufacture controversy and smear the YSRCP, even though the facts show the opposite: it was the Jagan government that detected the theft, arrested the culprit and recovered the temple’s assets.
Theft uncovered after decades — not under the previous regime
Ravikumar stole devotees’ offerings for nearly 20 years. Remarkably, despite 14 of those years falling under Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure as Chief Minister, the theft remained undetected. It was only after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration strengthened Parakamani procedures that TTD vigilance caught Ravikumar on 29 April 2023 — red-handed with foreign currency — and uncovered the full extent of the long-running theft.
Robust reforms that stopped the thefts
Recognizing the sanctity of Parakamani, the Jagan government invested in institutional safeguards. In 2022 a dedicated Parakamani complex was constructed, equipped with strong rooms, modern counting halls and 24×7 CCTV surveillance. These concrete reforms directly led to the exposure and arrest of the thief and restored security to a sacred service begun in 1933.
Recovery, repentance and restitution — facts speak for themselves
Following investigation, Ravikumar’s family voluntarily surrendered property with a registration value of ₹14 crore (market value ~₹100 crore) to TTD as an act of atonement. The TTD Board approved the transfer on 19 June 2023 — a rare and significant recovery of temple assets, not an act of impropriety. Far from corruption, this outcome demonstrates the vigilance and integrity of the administration that pursued the case.
Old footage weaponized into false propaganda
Rather than confront the policy outrage over medical-college privatization, coalition figures have chosen to weaponize a 2023 video and peddle baseless allegations — including claims that former Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy coerced property transfers. These claims are false: Bhumana was not the Chairman when the theft first surfaced, and the recovery of ₹100 crore worth of assets is evidence of accountability, not collusion.
Hypocrisy exposed: where was the outrage earlier?
The coalition’s selective outrage ignores past lapses under TDP rule: the gold-biscuit theft reported during the TDP era never resulted in similar recovery or transparency; VIP-darshan privilege scandals and other mismanagement episodes went unaddressed. Why were visuals not released then? Why was restitution not pursued? The double standard is blatant: today’s theatrics are politics, not justice.
From Srivani to laddus — a pattern of manufactured scandals
The coalition has repeatedly tried to discredit legitimate initiatives — from baseless attacks on the Srivani Trust (none proven) to false claims about Tirumala laddus, later dismissed by inquiry. Now, with public anger focused on privatization, they have again chosen cheap theatrics over policy debate.
Final word — a call for accountability, not diversion
If coalition leaders truly care about TTD’s sanctity, they should join the dialogue on governance and stop using sacred institutions as political props. As former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy stated: order a CBI probe if there is evidence; otherwise, withdraw the false charges and apologize publicly.
“Coalition leaders have made it their business to twist even the good works done under YSRCP rule. If they have courage, let them order a CBI probe. If proven false, Lokesh and BR Naidu must tender a public apology.”
