The Crime Investigation Department of the Andhra Pradesh police on Tuesday served a notice to YSR Congress Party leader and former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, directing him to appear before investigators in Tirupati, in connection with the sensational Tirumala Parakamani theft case.
According to the TTD officials, Bhumana would be grilled at the special investigation team (SIT) office located within the Padmavathi Guest House in Tirupati.
Bhumana was the TTD chairman when the alleged theft of foreign currency of US$ 920 took place at Parakamani (hundi counting centre) of Lord Venkateshara temple on April 7, 2023.
A head clerk at Pedda Jeeyar Swamy mutt C V Ravi Kumar was reportedly caught red-handed while stealing the amount, following which then TTD AVSO Satish Kumar lodged a complaint.
A case was subsequently registered at the Tirumala I Town police station.
The case was subsequently closed following a compromise with Ravi Kumar at Lok Adalat, after the latter offered to transfer some of his properties to the Tirumala temple.
The case was reopened after the TDP-led coalition came to power in 2024 and a journalist moved the high court challenging the compromise of the theft case at Lok Adalat.
Following directions from the high court, CID DGP Ravishankar Ayyannar took charge of the investigation.
The probe was to be completed and a report submitted by December 2.
The inquiry faced an unexpected setback when key complainant Satish Kumar died while cooperating with the investigation.
CID sources acknowledged that his death caused delays in corroborating internal records and statements.
On Monday, CID officials questioned former TTD VGO Giridhar. They sought clarity on whether Parakamani staff alerted him first about the theft, what internal vigilance inquiry was conducted and what documents were submitted and to whom; and whether he had advised or pressured AVSO Satish Kumar to compromise on the case.
Giridhar reportedly told investigators he had passed on all collected information to then CVSO Narasimha Kishore.
The CID officials later questioned former AVSO Padmanabham, seeking details on what he knew about the theft, the internal reporting structure and any procedural lapses.
Now, the CID chief would grill Bhumana on the decision-making and supervisory roles at the higher administrative level during the period when the theft took place.
