ACB raids TTD Deputy EO Mendu Lokanatham's premises in Tirupati over DA case
Synopsis
Seven ACB teams hit the home, office, guest house, and relatives' premises of TTD Deputy EO Mendu Lokanatham simultaneously at 6 am on 2 September — only the second time in a decade the anti-graft agency has targeted a TTD official. The 2016 precedent ended with recovery of 12 housing sites, two bank lockers, and a four-storey building.
Key Takeaways
ACB Andhra Pradesh launched raids on 2 September at premises linked to TTD Deputy EO Mendu Lokanatham .
Seven teams led by ACB DSP Srinivasa Rao began searches at 6 am across his residence, office, and a guest house in Tirumala .
Searches also covered homes of his two brothers-in-law in Tirupati and his sister in Chellur, Yerpedu mandal.
ACB opened Lokanatham's bank lockers at SBI's STV Nagar branch in Tirupati.
This is the second ACB action against a TTD official in a decade ; the 2016 case involved Deputy Executive Director T.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, 2 September launched coordinated searches across multiple premises linked to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Deputy Executive Officer Mendu Lokanatham in Tirupati, as part of an investigation into allegations that he holds assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The operation began at 6 am and was led by ACB DSP Srinivasa Rao, deploying seven teams simultaneously.
Scope of the Raids
Search teams descended on Lokanatham's residence at Peddakapu Layout in Tirupati and his official chamber at Tirumala at the same hour. Simultaneously, officials conducted searches at a guest house in Tirumala reportedly linked to him. Lokanatham was present at his residence when ACB personnel arrived.
The dragnet extended to the homes of his two brothers-in-law in Tirupati and the residence of his sister in Chellur, Yerpedu mandal. ACB officials also opened Lokanatham's bank lockers at the State Bank of India's STV Nagar branch in Tirupati.
Who Is Mendu Lokanatham
Lokanatham currently serves as Deputy Executive Officer of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple under TTD and has held several positions within the organisation over the years. TTD is one of India's wealthiest and most prominent religious trusts, managing the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple — which draws millions of pilgrims annually and oversees a vast endowment corpus.
A Rare Precedent for TTD
This is reportedly only the second time in a decade that the ACB has targeted premises linked to a TTD official. In 2016, the agency had conducted similar searches at the residence of T. Bhupathi Reddy, then Deputy Executive Director of TTD. In that case, raids extended to relatives and associates across Tirupati and Bengaluru, and officials recovered documents related to 12 housing sites, two bank lockers, an apartment, and a four-storey building.
What Happens Next
The ACB is expected to compile and analyse documents and assets seized during Wednesday's searches before determining the next course of action, which could include formal charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The outcome of the raids will be closely watched given TTD's stature as a public religious institution accountable to the Andhra Pradesh government.
Point of View
Multi-location swoop on a sitting TTD official is significant beyond the individual case. TTD manages one of India's richest temple trusts, and accountability within it has historically been opaque. That this is only the second such action in ten years raises a question: is the anti-corruption machinery being applied selectively, or is Wednesday's raid a signal of more sustained scrutiny? The 2016 precedent — which yielded substantial asset recovery — suggests the ACB moves carefully when it moves at all. The real test will be whether formal charges follow swiftly, or whether the raids remain an isolated headline.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ACB raid TTD Deputy EO Mendu Lokanatham's premises?
The ACB conducted searches based on allegations that Lokanatham holds assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The raids are part of a formal investigation under Andhra Pradesh's anti-corruption framework.
How many locations were searched during the ACB operation?
Seven ACB teams simultaneously searched Lokanatham's residence in Peddakapu Layout, his office in Tirumala, a guest house in Tirumala, the homes of his two brothers-in-law in Tirupati, and his sister's residence in Chellur, Yerpedu mandal. Officials also opened his bank lockers at SBI's STV Nagar branch.
Has the ACB raided a TTD official before?
Yes. In 2016, the ACB conducted similar searches at the residence of T. Bhupathi Reddy, then Deputy Executive Director of TTD. That operation extended to relatives and associates in Tirupati and Bengaluru, and resulted in the recovery of documents linked to 12 housing sites, two bank lockers, an apartment, and a four-storey building.
Who is Mendu Lokanatham?
Mendu Lokanatham is the Deputy Executive Officer of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple under TTD, one of India's wealthiest and most prominent religious trusts. He has held various positions within TTD over the years.
What happens after the ACB searches?
The ACB will analyse documents and assets seized during the raids before deciding on formal charges. If sufficient evidence is found, the case is likely to proceed under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
