Andhra Pradesh: Tirupati Temple Body Suspends Officer For Allegedly Attending Church Prayers

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the Hindu religious body overseeing the sacred hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara, has suspended its Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) A Rajasekhar Babu with immediate effect over allegations of attending church services in his hometown of Puttur in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district.

The suspension comes after it was found that Babu allegedly participated in church prayers every Sunday, breaching the TTD’s employee conduct regulations.

"It has come to the notice of TTD that Sri Rajasekhar Babu attends local church prayers every Sunday in his hometown Puttur in Tirupati district," said the temple body in a statement on Wednesday (8 July).

The suspension is part of TTD’s wider enforcement drive against staff participating in non-Hindu religious practices. At least 18 others, including teachers, technical officers, nurses and other officers, have been transferred earlier for similar reasons.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer of TTD, Tirupati, it came to their attention that Rajasekhar Babu regularly attended local church prayers in his hometown of Puttur.

According to the temple body, this conduct is a clear violation of TTD norms, as he failed to adhere to the code of conduct expected of an employee representing a Hindu religious organisation.

The decision was taken after reviewing a report from the TTD Vigilance Department and supporting evidence, the temple body said.

"After examining the report submitted by the TTD Vigilance Department and other evidence, departmental action was initiated against him as per the rules and he was suspended with immediate effect," it added.

A video has gone viral showing him attending church and offering prayers.

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