Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati
M Sreenivasulu vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh on 19 December, 2025
APHC010014262025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
AT AMARAVATI
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
FRIDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER
TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA
PRASAD
WRIT PETITION NO: 1294 OF 2025
Between:
1. M SREENIVASULU, S/O. LATE CHENCHAIAH, AGED 52 YEARS,
OCC REPORTER, R/O. MAIN ROAD, SUBBAREDDY NAGAR,
AKKARAMPALLI(V), TIRUPATI URBAN MANDAL, TIRUPATI
DISTRICT(FORMERLY CHITTOOR DISTRICT)
...PETITIONER
AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL
SECRETARY, ENDOWMENTS DEPT., SECRETARIAT,
VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DIST.,
2. TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS, TIRUMALA, TIRUPATI
DISTRICT REP BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
3. CHIEF VIGILANCE AND SECURITY OFFICER, TTD TIRUMALA
TIRUPATI
4. Y SATISH KUMAR AV AND SO, ASST VIGILANCE AND SECURITY
OFFICER, PARAKAMANI, TTD, TIRUMALA.
5. C V RAVI KUMAR, S/O. RAMA RAO, AGED 55 YEARS, OCC CLERK
R/O. 6-7-635/A, SIRIPURAM COLONY, K.T.ROAD, TIRUPATI.
6. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE CID, POLICE HEAD QUARTERS,
CRIME INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT,1ST FLOOR, MANGALAGIRI,
GUNTUR, ANDHRA PRADESH 522503. CAUSE TITLE IS AMENDED
AS PER COURT ORDER DT.13.10.2025 IN IA 2 OF 2025 IN THE
2
WRIT PETITION AND AFFIDAVIT.
...RESPONDENT(S):
Counsel for the Petitioner:
1. SRINIVASULU KURRA Counsel for the Respondent(S):
1. C.S.SRIKAR
2. UDAY KUMAR VAMPUGADAVALA
3. GP FOR ENDOWMENTS
4. C SRINIVASA BABA The Court made the following ORDER:
None for the Petitioner.
2. Heard Sri C. Srinivasa Baba, learned Standing Counsel for T.T.D, Sri Komara Prudhvi Raj, learned Counsel for the proposed Respondent No.7, Sri S. Syam Sundar Rao, learned Special Public Prosecutor for ACB and Sri C. Panini Somayaji, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of Sri M. Lakshmi Narayana, Special Public Prosecutor for CID.
3. After having sifted through the contents of 16 sealed bundles provided by the DIG-CID, this Court, in its Order dated 27.10.2025 had noted the events chronologically and had issued several directions in Para No.19 of the said Order dated 27.10.2025. In compliance with the directions in sub paras (i) and (ii) of Para No.19, the DGP-CID and DGP-ACB have filed their Reports in a sealed cover to the extent of investigation that was done by that date. The Reports would indicate that further investigation is in progress. The DGP-CID has subsequently filed additional Report and had also placed on record the entire process of securing the Hundies by the process of sealing in the main temple complex and loading them into a truck at Golla Mandapam and transporting them to the 'Parakamani Complex' and the subsequent 3 process of counting and accounting for the offerings received from the Devotees. This entire process from collection of Hundies from the temple complex, transporting to the Parakamani Complex and the subsequent process has been presented in the form of photographs.
4. On the last occasion i.e., on 10.12.2025 , this Court has expressed its opinion that there is immediate requirement of bringing systemic Reforms in handling process at every stage of Hundies from Golla Mandapam onwards.
5. Reforms are required to be introduced in sealing process, transportation, de-sealing of Hundies at Parakamani, handling of containers and counting process wherein man power is employed. The accounting part, deposits, handling of precious metals and other valuable offerings. Particularly, this Court has indicated on the last occasion that it is possible to reduce human-intervention by introducing complete mechanization by use of Technology, Computerization, Digitalization of Records and use of Artificial Intelligence.
6. This Court has suggested these methods to avoid mistakes, pilferage, fraud and also to bring perfection in a fool-proof manner and also to avoid humiliation of volunteering devotees in the process of frisking.
7. The Temple Priests performs Poojas and Sevas to the Diety - Lord Venkateswara Swamy as per the Agama Sastra. The issues with regard to the Sevas which are performed to the Diety are not relevant for the present purpose, and therefore, are not being touched upon. This Court is presently dealing with issues from the point of view of the devotees. The important activities that they (devotees) indulge are :
i) Darshan;
ii) Offerings : Material offerings and performance of voluntary
Sevas; and,
iii) Receiving Prasadam in the form of Theertham and food items.
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8. All these activities are supervised by the Trust called the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (T.T.D) and are managed by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees act on behalf of the Deity. Any deviations or dilutions in the performance of Poojas, Sevas, Offerings and Prasadam would affect the religious sentiments of the Devotees across borders. The Board of Trustees that acts for the Deity is solely burdened with the indispensable moral and religious obligation to protect and preserve the religious sentiments of its devotees at all times. The Board of Trustees would be failing in its duty if it is found wanting in any of these aspects.
9. The incident of theft happened on 29.04.2023 in the Parakamani Complex and the subsequent events have affected sentiments of Devotees and Believers across the World. This Court vide Order dated 27.10.2025 had ordered for investigation and the same is in progress. On the last occasion, this Court has already expressed its opinion that systemic Reforms are required to be ushered-in as regards the handling of offerings which are collected from the Hundies in the Temple Complex upto the accounting of it till the last paisa.
10. This Court expressed on the last occasion that the archaic methods and out-dated procedures that were adopted from times immemorial are now required to be done away in order to avoid activities of theft, pilferage, mishandling and misappropriations, without affecting any of the indispensable and sacred procedures which are undertaken in the temple complex.
11. Devotees make offerings to the Deity in myriad forms and the monetary value of such offering is only secondary, while the sense of devotion with which offerings are made forms the primary aspect. Therefore, the value to the offering carries with it not just the monetary value but it carries with it the invisible, intangible and immeasurable religious sentiments. For this reason, securing the offerings made to the Deity with absolute care and devotion would be most essential and primordial duty of the Board of Trustees 5 to safeguard and preserve the religious sentiments and faith that is attached to the offerings.
12. For this purpose, this Court is of the opinion that the T.T.D is required to chalk-out Plan-A for immediate Reforms and Plan-B for the permanent Reforms by introduction of Technology, Computerization, Digitalization of Records and Artificial Intelligence in surveillance and vigil. The Artificial Intelligence can be introduced even for segregation of the contents of the Hundi and separation and grading of currencies of various countries and denominations. Similarly, the Artificial Intelligence can be used for identification and segregation of other precious items such as coins, precious metals, Stones (Diamonds, Pearls and other precious Stones). The Artificial Intelligence can be used for handling of Mudupoos and several other offerings. The proposals made by this Court with regard to the Reformation through modernization and use of technology are only suggestive, but they are not exhaustive. The T.T.D is required to make a constant effort to usher- in more and more Reforms at every stage and from time to time.
13. For the purposes as indicated above, the T.T.D would now be required to draft separate plans as indicated above for immediate Reformation and permanent Reformation in the Parakamani Complex commencing from the journey of Hundies from Golla Mandapam till the last stage wherein the Offerings are accounted for.
14. The T.T.D is directed to submit Plan-A within two weeks from today. Insofar as Plan-B is concerned, needless to state that the T.T.D would be required to engage the Technical Experts for the purpose of modernization by introducing Technology, Mechanisation, Computerization, Digitalization of Records and use of Artificial Intelligence by forming various Committees. There is no doubt that a large number of devotees who are spread across the World, who are technically qualified and having vast experience in the fields above mentioned, would be more than willing to assist, aid and advice the 6 T.T.D for achieving this purpose. Insofar as Plan-B is concerned, the T.T.D is directed to submit a rough draft within eight weeks from today.
15. Insofar as the directions contained in sub-paras (i) & (ii) of Para-19 of the Order of this Court dated 27.10.2025, this Court has sifted through the Reports submitted by the DGP-CID and DGP-ACB. Sub-para-(ii) of Para-19 of the Order dated 27.10.2025 is usefully extracted hereunder:
"(ii) A Police Officer who is of the rank of Director General of Police, Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) shall investigate into the assets (movable and immovable including bank accounts) possessed/acquired by Sri C.V. Ravi Kumar and his family including all kinds of alienations by him and members of his family by way of registrations or otherwise. The possession/acquisition of the assets shall be investigated from the point of view of the 'known sources of income of Sri C.V. Ravi Kumar and his family.' The Report which shall also include the proposed action based on the Investigation Report shall be submitted to the Court through the Registrar (Judicial) before the next date of listing."
(emphasis supplied)
16. The DGP-ACB is required to submit a Report in a sealed cover containing information and particulars as regards the alienations of movable and immovable properties done by Sri C.V. Ravi Kumar and his family members by way of Registrations or otherwise, which is highlighted in the above extract. Let the same be submitted in a sealed cover to the Registrar (Judicial) within one week from today.
17. List the matter on 26.12.2025 for compliance and for further hearing on the suggestions for reformations in Parakamani.
_______________________________________ GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD, J Dt:19.12.2025 JKS/DSV b/o LR. copy to be marked