Tirupati: Unhappy over a parallel inquiry ordered into the alleged misappropriation of Rs 4 crore at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's Sri Venkateswara temple in New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Resident Commissioner Praveen Prakash has resigned as Chairman of the TTD Local Advisory Committee (LAC).
Praveen Prakash on Saturday sent his resignation to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the world's richest Hindu temple at Tirumala in Tirupati.
His move came after the Andhra Pradesh government ordered probe by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department into alleged financial irregularities by TTD staff posted in New Delhi.
The fresh probe was ordered even as Prakash, an IAS officer, was conducting an inquiry on the direction of the TTD following a petition by an anonymous person alleging the scam.
The letter, believed to be written by a newly-appointed TTD staff member in Delhi, claimed malpractices by some temple staff and the LAC.
The complainant, in his letter last month, alleged that the staff was siphoning off Rs 5 lakh every month. He also claimed that the annual expenditure of the TTD in the national capital rose to Rs 7 crore from Rs 1.4 crore earlier.
The staff had allegedly diverted funds under 'Anna Prasadam' (free meals for devotees) and were also collecting money from priests, he alleged
The allegations caused a furore and following advice by TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy and government advisor Ajeya Kallam, another probe by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department was ordered.
Kallam had reportedly visited the temple on Friday to get first-hand information about the happenings.
Prakash, who had ordered inquiry by the legal officer on August 14, took exception to the manner in which parallel probe was ordered and an official of Vigilance and Enforcement Department took away records. He said this indicate lack of confidence in the office of LAC Chairman.
He sent his resignation to TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal.
LAC manages the S.V Temple, the TTD Information Centre in New Delhi and some temples in Kurukshetra and Rishikesha on behalf of the TTD.