Tirupati, Sep 21 (NationPress) Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, the former chairman of TTD and a prominent YSRCP leader, has called for a CBI investigation into the alleged theft of the parakamani (donation box) at the Tirumala temple, claiming that such incidents have persisted for the last two decades.

Reddy accused the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) of being manipulated for political, commercial, and vindictive purposes through misinformation.

He asserted that the theft has been ongoing for 20 years, but it was under the leadership of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSRCP that the theft was uncovered. Reddy further mentioned that a TTD employee, identified as Ravi Kumar, along with his family, returned assets worth Rs 40 crore as a form of restitution.

This statement was in response to allegations made by TTD member and BJP leader Bhanu Prakash Reddy, who claimed that CCTV footage showed Kumar stealing from the donation box.

Prakash Reddy alleged that substantial sums of money were funneled into real estate from these stolen funds, which he claimed were redirected to Tadepalli Palace, the residence of Jagan Mohan Reddy. He described the Rs 100 crore theft as the largest in TTD's history during the YSRCP rule.

In defense, Karunakar Reddy stated that it was the YSRCP that revealed the theft, and any claims that their party members were involved were baseless. He called for a CBI inquiry to clarify the facts surrounding this incident.

Expressing distrust in the CB CID due to perceived biases in recent cases, he emphasized that an independent CBI investigation is essential to uncover the truth.

Reddy criticized the TDP for what he described as a relentless smear campaign against the YSRCP, highlighting that the 20-year-long theft went unnoticed during N. Chandrababu Naidu's three terms as Chief Minister, but was exposed during the current administration.

He praised the God-fearing family of Ravi Kumar for their decision to return the assets, asserting their sincerity.

“If there were any ill intentions, we would have immediately blamed Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP once the theft was discovered. However, our actions reflect our commitment to returning the assets to their rightful owner, Lord Venkateswara,” he added.

Reddy remarked that had this incident occurred during the TDP's term, any recovered property would have been appropriated by Naidu and his associates, showcasing the differences between their administration and that of Jagan Mohan Reddy. He pointed out that the recent theft of a gold biscuit went unreported, further questioning the government's integrity.

He concluded by stating that throughout TTD's history, no one has returned stolen assets as was done during the YSRCP term, labeling the accusations from TTD chairman B.R. Naidu and minister Nara Lokesh as unfounded and premature, which may eventually backfire.