Vigilance raid at Devaswom official’s properties; 1.42-kg gold vessel, Rs 5 crore in illegal assets found

HYDERABAD: A Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau raid on the properties of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Deputy Executive Officer Mendu Lokanatham has uncovered alleged illegal assets worth around Rs 5 crore, including a 1.42-kg gold vessel.

The searches were conducted at Lokanatham’s residences and the homes of his relatives based on crucial information reportedly gathered during the CBI’s investigation into the alleged ghee adulteration case. Inputs provided by a Special Investigation Team and other central agencies also reportedly prompted the raids.

Led by DSP Srinivasa Rao, the Vigilance team launched simultaneous searches early Wednesday at multiple locations in Tirupati, Tirumala, Chellur and Bengaluru.

The properties searched included Lokanatham’s main residence in Tirupati, his official guest house in Tirumala, and the residences of his sister and two brothers-in-law.

The officials seized Rs 12.5 lakh in cash, around 2 kg of gold and a gold vessel weighing 1.42 kg. They also recovered 6.5 kg of silver during the searches.

The Vigilance team also identified several properties allegedly linked to Lokanatham and his family. These included a house in PK Layout, Tirupati, registered in his wife’s name, along with two plots and a building in Gollavanigunta. Joint land documents valued at Rs 31.98 lakh were also found.

A plot in Srinivasa Nagar, Tirupati, registered in the name of Lokanatham’s son, another plot in Vadamalapeta mandal and four fixed deposit receipts were also identified during the searches, officials said. Further proceedings in the case are underway, authorities said.