A report that a big consignment of 300 large-sized laddus of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy of Tirumala had been flown to New Delhi has kicked up a lot of row in the political circles of Andhra Pradesh.
According to this report, as many as 300 large laddus used during Kalyanotsavam of the Tirumala deity, were taken from Tirupati international airport to Delhi.
An RTI query apparently revealed that the consignment of laddus was carried at the request of in-charge executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams A V Dharma Reddy.
But the airlines authorities did not allow such a huge consignment to be carried along with the luggage of Dharma Reddy, he had made special request with another airline to take them to Delhi using his influence.
Inquiries also revealed that the money for the laddus was debited from the TTD account and shown as part of Kalyanotsavam.
“It is surprising how Dharma Reddy could take so many big-sized laddus to Delhi, when he will take serious action against the TTD employees if they take even five small laddus,” a source associated with the TTD said.
It is learnt Dharma Reddy carried the laddus to please his bosses in the Indian Defence Estates Service Department in Delhi, as part of lobbying to get further extension in Andhra Pradesh, so that he could be appointed as full-time executive officer of the TTD.
He had been on deputation to the state services for two terms and his latest term expired by May end. Though the State government tried for another extension, centre did not agree since rules do not permit.
So, he is making intense lobbying at the H level. Even chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy put forth his request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dharma Reddy’s extension during his visit to Delhi two days ago.
If he gets the extension, he would be appointed as Secretary in Endowments Department and make him full time EO of TTD.
A petition filed by a resident of Tirupati P Naveen Kumar Reddy is already ending in the state high court, challenging the appointment of Dharma Reddy as in-charge EO.
The petitioner argued that the appointment of Dharma Reddy as the EO was contrary to the qualifications mentioned in Section.107(1) of AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (Act 30 of 1987).