For nearly ten years, polyester shawls delivered instead of silk

Vigilance officials found that dupattas supplied by VRS Exports, an entity awarded tenders repeatedly over the past decade, were made entirely of polyester. Although they cost only Rs 350-400 in the market, TTD was billed Rs 1,389 per piece.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), one of the world’s richest and most sacred temples, is confronting yet another credibility crisis after a decade-long procurement scam involving ceremonial silk dupattas came to light. Following earlier controversies, ranging from the Parakamani hundi theft case to allegations of adulterated ghee used in laddu prasadam, this fresh revelation has deeply unsettled devotees who see Tirumala as the spiritual heart of their faith.

According to a detailed vigilance investigation, a single supplier entrusted with providing mulberry silk dupattas for sacred honours has, for nearly ten years, delivered 100 percent polyester shawls instead of pure silk. These dupattas are traditionally used to honour donors, VIPs, and Veda Ashirvachanam recipients at the revered Ranganayakula Mandapam. The fraud, which allegedly went unchecked from 2015 to 2025, has resulted in financial losses estimated at over Rs 55 crore.

TTD procures lakhs of these dupattas annually, each expected to adhere to strict standards, they must be woven exclusively from mulberry silk, weigh at least 180 grams, contain a minimum of 110 grams of pure silk, bear the Silk Mark hologram, and feature inscriptions of “Om Namo Venkatesaya” along with the Sanku, Chakra, and Namam symbols. However, vigilance officials found that dupattas supplied by VRS Exports, an entity awarded tenders repeatedly over the past decade, were made entirely of polyester. Although they cost only Rs 350-400 in the market, TTD was billed Rs 1,389 per piece.

The scam came to light after TTD Trust Board Chairman B.R. Naidu ordered sudden quality inspections. Samples collected from stocks in Tirupati and Tirumala were sent to Central Silk Board laboratories in Bengaluru and Dharmavaram. The reports confirmed that the dupattas were completely polyester with no Silk Mark certification. Officials now suspect that earlier testing at a Kancheepuram lab may have involved sample tampering, allowing the scam to continue without detection.

Speaking to Metro India, BR Naidu, TTD Chairman said, “A shawl that costs about Rs 350 was being billed at Rs 1,300. The total supplies over the last decade amount to more than Rs 50 crore. We have directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

The vigilance report reveals that one contractor and its associate firms controlled dupatta procurement for nearly a decade, raising questions about systemic lapses and possible internal collusion. Tender renewals, quality checks, and certification processes appear to have been compromised, creating an environment where fraudulent supplies could pass as genuine religious materials.

The TTD Trust Board has cancelled existing tenders and referred the matter to the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for a full-fledged criminal investigation. Officials say the probe will focus on violations of tender conditions, financial misappropriation, and evidence of a larger conspiracy.

This scandal is the latest in a growing list of controversies surrounding TTD’s procurement systems. The ghee adulteration issue in 2024 triggered a CBI-monitored SIT investigation into the supply chain for laddu prasadam, while the Parakamani hundi theft case led to judicial intervention and High Court orders for deeper scrutiny. Together, these incidents have shaken public trust in one of India’s most respected religious institutions.

For millions of devotees worldwide, the scandal strikes at the core of their faith. The challenge now before TTD is not only to identify and punish those responsible, but also to restore the trust that has been steadily eroded by repeated lapses.