Swamy To Move SC Over Sacking Of Tirumala Chief Priest By Governing Body, Says ‘Action Grossly Illegal’

Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Subramanian Swamy has said that he will move the Supreme Court (SC) against the sacking of Tirumala chief priest by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), The News Minute has reported.

Swamy announced his move on Twitter late on Monday, calling the action taken against chief priest Dr A V Ramana Deekshitulu a “grossly illegal exercise of power". He said he would seek a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the financial irregularities at the temple highlighted by the chief priest.

The chief priest was relieved of his duties after he alleged that the administrators of the temple were swindling money and ruining the sanctity of the temple.

He had demanded a probe into financial irregularities and called for an open audit of the donation received by the temple and the manner in which they were used.

“We see only the new ornaments used to adorn the holy deity during processions. We don’t know what happened to the old ornaments donated by Sri Krishnadevaraya, Raghoji Bhonsle, Mysuru kings and diwans,” he said last Tuesday in Chennai, adding, “It is like an iron curtain, nothing comes out of it.”

On Saturday, protests broke out at the temple against the governing body’s decision to relieve chief priest from his duties. The protesters demanded a probe into the allegations made by the chief priest and asked the governing body to make the details about the donations and ornaments public.

The governing body, however, has refused to make the information public.

“All allegations made regarding the ancient jewels of the Lord are baseless. The TTD is maintaining all records. The announcement of retirement of all the Mirasis is definitely a good move, as the next generations will also get an opportunity to serve the lord,” the new head priest, A Venugopala Deekshitulu, has said.