Tirupati temple authorities face serious allegations

Though the Andhra Pradesh government did take action over the allegations against TTD (the body that administers the highly-revered shrine), the sentiments of the devotees apparently remain unassuaged and Opposition parties are up in arms against the temple administration.

Telugu Desam Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Praja Rajyam President and Tirupati MLA Chiranjeevi have trekked up to Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, to highlight the hurt feelings of the worshippers from Tirupati.

Naidu and TDP leaders recently held a massive sit-in in front of the administrative building of the TTD at Tirupati, demanding that the government constitute a new board with god-fearing persons and those with a spiritual bent of mind.

The Telugu Desam Chief alleged that TTD Board Chairman D K Adikesavulu Naidu is a liquor baron and an "atheist" who had scant regard for the sentiments of the devotees.
In addition to Opposition, some regional TV channels have been running a campaign for "cleansing" the temple brass.

For long, there have been allegations that PAs of some of the TTD Board members took advantage of the darshan tickets available under personal quota of the members and sold them in the black market at exorbitant rates to visiting pilgrims.

The state government has ordered a probe by Vigilance and Enforcement department into allegations of sale of 'Arjitha Seva' (paid rituals) and the report was submitted recently.
Another controversy sparked off over allegedly missing ornaments offered to the Lord by Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya about 500 years ago.