Andhra Pradesh High Court Suspends Lok Adalat's Acquittal Order in TTD Scam Case
High Court Directs CB-CID to Probe Alleged Scam in TTD's Parakamani; Lok Adalat's Order Suspended in Public Interest
In a significant legal development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has suspended an order passed by the Lok Adalat at Tirupati, which had acquitted an accused involved in a high-profile scam in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Parakamani. The order, dated 19th September 2025, was delivered by Justice Gannamaneni Ramakrishna Prasad in response to a writ petition filed by M. Sreenivasulu. The Court took this decision in the public interest, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations and the need for a thorough investigation.
The controversy began when Y. Satish Kumar, an Assistant Vigilance & Security Officer at TTD, lodged a complaint on 29th April 2023, leading to the registration of FIR No. 24/2023 at the Town-I Police Station, Tirumala. This complaint accused C.V. Ravi Kumar under Sections 379 and 381 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertain to theft and theft by a clerk or servant of property in possession of the master, respectively.
Subsequently, a Lok Adalat held at Tirupati on 9th September 2023, in Case No. 582 of 2023, saw the de-facto complainant voluntarily compound the offenses, resulting in the accused's acquittal under Section 320(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code. This decision, however, has now been suspended by the High Court, which has directed the Inspector General of the CB-CID to seize all related records, including the FIR, board resolutions of the TTD, and proceedings from the Lok Adalat, for further examination.
Justice Prasad, emphasizing the public interest involved, also directed the suo moto impleading of the IG, CB-CID, as a respondent in the writ petition and instructed the Registrar (Judicial) to ensure compliance with the court's orders. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on 13th October 2025, by which time the CB-CID is expected to submit the seized records for the Court’s perusal.
The High Court's intervention underscores the judicial system's role in ensuring accountability and transparency, especially in cases involving public institutions like the TTD, which attract millions of devotees and substantial donations. The allegations of misappropriation in the Parakamani have raised concerns about the management of temple offerings, prompting the Court to ensure a meticulous probe into the matter.
Bottom Line:
Public interest - Order of Lok Adalat compounded offences under Sections 379 and 381 IPC and acquitted accused - High Court suspended Lok Adalat's order and directed IG, CB-CID to seize all related records for further investigation.
Statutory provision(s): Section 320(8) CrPC, Sections 379 and 381 IPC
M Sreenivasulu v. State of Andhra Pradesh, (Andhra Pradesh) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2783236
