TTD suspends eleven employees in gold dollar case

Tirupati, Aug 11 (UNI) After nearly three-years, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) administration today suspended eleven employees in connection with the disappearance of 300 gold dollars weighing five grams each in 2006.

Talking to newspersons, TTD Executive officer K V Ramanachary said he has issued suspension orders to the present Special Grade Deputy Executive Officer (General Services) Prabhakara Reddy, Local Temple Deputy Executive Vasdevan and Temple Superintendent Ramachandra Reddy on the basis of charges framed by the TTD vigilance.

The suspension order was also issued to eight other retired employees including P Seshadri, who is presently working on extension in Tirumala temple.

To protect the precious sri vari jewellery, the vigilance report suggested that the jewellery belonging to Lord Venkateswara on the famous Tirumala hills, valued at over Rs 30,000 crores should be under the physical custody of two gazetted officers.

The sole custodian, K Venkatachalapathi, assistant gold counter, who fraudulently sold 300 gold coins weighing 5 grms each without issuing receipts to pilgrims between 2001 and 2006, was suspended when the issue was came to light and the case was handed over to the CID wing by TTD.

Though the CID conducted a separate probe and filed a charge sheet in April 2008, the present TTD Chief Vigilance Security Officer Ramanakumar, who taken charge recently, re-conducted a detailed enquiry and filed charge sheet against eleven employees including 3 in-service and eight retired employees.

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