Now that the YSR Congress party led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has lost power in Andhra Pradesh, there has been a demand from various sections of people for a probe into alleged scams in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) during his regime.
One of the scams that is being talked about and on which the Naidu government has been getting complaints is the “darshan racket,” involving the YSRCP MLAs and ministers, particularly those who are close to the Jagan camp.
These YSRCP leaders had allegedly made big money for arranging darshan for Lord Venkateshwara Swamy and accommodation in Tirumala for pilgrims coming from different parts of the state using their connections in the TTD.
Since former TTD executive officer A V Dharma Reddy was closer to Jagan, he used to entertain these requests from the YSRCP leaders.
Prominent among those who have allegedly exploited the demand for Lord Venkateshwara darshan were: then Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and former minister from Nagari R K Roja.
A letter purported to have been issued by Chevireddy in April 2023 in the capacity of the MLA, Tirupati Urban Development Authority chairman and also TTD member, is now in circulation on social media, evoking criticism from the netizens.
This letter showed how Chevireddy had recommended to the TTD authorieis to arrange break darshan and Arjitha Sevas to as many as 56 people from Bellary, Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nellore, Chittoor, Krishna and Bengaluru, besides VIP accommodation at Sri Padmavathi Guest House on a single day.
“This is not just a one-day affair. It had been a routine practice for Chevireddy to recommend special darshan and accommodation for the people from different parts of Telugu states,” sources said.
Not that they were all related to the MLA and he had recommended their names. His personal staff would sell these letters signed by him to the people for a premium, taking advantage of their necessity and made big money, sources said.
There were similar allegations against Roja, who used to have the darshan of Lord Venkateswara almost every week. Every time, she used to get protocol darshan and not less than 100 people would accompany her.
“There were allegations that Roja was facilitating protocol darshan by collecting huge amounts from the followers misusing her position,” sources said.
Now that the YSRC has lost power, the Naidu government is likely to order for a probe into these out-of-turn darshans, among other scams.
“The TTD must be having the details of Aadhar cards of all those who accompanied Roja for darshan. It can be easily found out who they were and how they got the protocol darshan,” sources said.
