Dr AV Ramana Deekshituli, the ousted chief priest of Tirupati has demanded a CBI probe into missing jewels at the temple, The News Minute reported.
According to the report, Deekshitulu had a spat with officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, the temple board, which he claims resulted in his ouster.
Addressing reporters in Hyderabad, Deekshitulu held up a newspaper clipping about the auction of a diamond.
“A few months ago, a pink diamond was auctioned in Geneva for Rs 500 crore. When I saw the photo of the auctioned diamond in a newspaper, I immediately felt that it was similar to the one which used to be in the platinum necklace of Lord Venkanna,” he was quoted as saying.
The former chief priest also alleged that several precious pieces of jewellery have gone missing since 1996 and demanded a detailed investigation. He also claimed that only jewellery and ornaments that were donated recently, were being used to decorate the deity.
In another major allegation, he also claimed that the TTD had demolished ancient temples in the name of renovation, without any approval from the authorities.
However, responding to the allegations TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal said that the TTD was ready to publicly display the jewels amid heavy security, if the Agama advisers allowed them to do so.
Dikshitulu was made to retire and replaced by A Venugopala Deekshitulu. He had made a series of corruption allegations against the temple administrators, sources said.
He was handed over the retirement letter late last night, they said, adding copies of the letter were pasted on the wall of his residential quarters in the hill.
In light of the recent resolution of the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) Board, Ramana Deekshitulu (69) is permitted to retire with immediate effect, sources said quoting the letter.
Earlier, the TTD Board that governs the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in nearby Tirumala today said it would print 3D pictures of all precious ornaments at the temple as a safety measure.
"The temple administration, as a safety measure, has decided to create a file of 3D pictures of all the jewels," Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Executive Officer, AK Singhal told reporters at Tirumala.
He also said if Agama (vedic scriptures defining traditions and rituals in a temple) pundits gave their nod, TTD would telecast on its SVBC channel all the rituals including the Suprabhatham, Thomala and other Sevas conducted for the main deity of Lord Venkateswara.
Singhal said he would soon hold talks with the Agama pundits on the proposed live telecast of the rituals performed for the main deity.
With PTI Inputs
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