Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Housing, Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy on Monday alleged that former TTD vigilance officer Satish Kumar was murdered out of fear that the masterminds behind the Rs 100 crore foreign currency theft at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Parakamani could be exposed. Addressing a press conference at the TDP central office in Mangalagiri, the minister accused the previous government of desecrating the sanctity of the sacred Tirumala temple through political conspiracies and large-scale corruption.

Parthasarathy expressed anguish that a temple revered by crores of devotees became the epicentre of what he described as dacoit-style looting during the former regime. He said that despite the massive theft reported on April 29, 2023, only mild sections were invoked in the initial FIR raising suspicions of a deliberate attempt to dilute the case.

Highlighting glaring irregularities, the minister questioned how the charge-sheet was filed within just one month of the FIR, on May 31, and how, the very next day, vigilance officer Satish Kumar and accused Ravi Kumar submitted a compromise petition in court. “Whose pressure forced such a quick settlement?” he asked, alleging that the accused “donated” assets worth only Rs 14.5 crore to TTD to quietly bury the Rs 100 crore scandal.

Parthasarathy said vigilance reports indicate Satish Kumar agreed to the compromise under high-level pressure. His later “mysterious and suspicious” death, he asserted, points to a larger conspiracy. Drawing parallels with earlier high-profile murders, he criticised attempts to portray Satish’s death as suicide even before police investigations began.