After fake ghee, Rs 55 crore silk dupatta scam rocks Tirupati Temple Trust; probe ordered

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), one of India’s richest and most visited temple trusts, has been hit by its latest procurement scandal, adding to a series of controversies that have already shaken the institution, including allegations of ghee adulteration in the sacred laddu prasadam and the Parakamani hundi money counting theft case.

An internal vigilance inquiry has now uncovered that over the past decade, the trust may have been defrauded of more than Rs 55 crore through the purchase of silk dupattas that were, in reality, made of polyester.

These dupattas, known as Pattu Sariga dupattas, are a key part of temple rituals and are presented to donors, Veda Aseervachanam recipients, and visiting dignitaries during ceremonies at the Tirumala temple, including the Vedasirvachanam at the Ranganayakula Mandapam.

The trust has strict specifications for these ceremonial items. Each dupatta must be woven entirely from pure mulberry silk, carry the Silk Mark hologram, and feature meticulously tested zari borders.

The warp and weft must be 20/22 denier silk, resulting in a minimum count of 31.5 denier, and the total weight must be 180 grams, comprising at least 110 grams of degummed and dyed silk. Each dupatta must be 1 metre wide and 2.3 metres long, featuring a 2.5-inch double-sided border and inscriptions of “Om Namo Venkatesaya” in both Telugu and Sanskrit, along with the Sanku, Chakra, and Namam symbols in the centre.

The irregularities came to light when the TTD board, chaired by BR Naidu, directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer to verify whether dupattas supplied under existing agreements conformed to these specifications.

Vigilance officials collected samples from fresh stocks at the Tirupati godown and from approved stocks at the Vaibhavotsava Mandapam in Tirumala. Laboratory tests, including one conducted by the Central Silk Board, revealed that the dupattas were actually made of polyester and lacked the mandatory Silk Mark, violating tender conditions and causing significant financial loss to the trust.

“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,” BR Naidu said.

The internal probe further revealed that a single contractor and its associate firms were responsible for supplying the bulk of dupattas from 2015 to 2025. Following the findings, the TTD Trust Board cancelled all existing tenders with the firm and referred the matter to the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for a comprehensive criminal investigation.

Vigilance officers noted that the fraudulent substitution of polyester not only caused a massive financial loss but also struck at the sanctity of temple rituals. The dupattas play a central role in ceremonies for donors and VIPs, making their authenticity critical to maintaining the trust’s reputation and religious protocols.

This dupatta scam marks the latest in a troubling series of procurement controversies faced by TTD. With the ACB investigation now underway, the trust faces increasing pressure to strengthen its procurement processes and ensure transparency.