Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is an independent trust which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.
Pic courtesy: tirumala.orgTIRUPATI, INDIA, May 21, 2018 (Zee News): A controversy has broken out over the removal of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chief priest AV Ramana Deekshitulu. The move came days after he alleged that the administrators of the temple were swindling money. The decision to remove Ramana was taken after the TTD Trust Board passed a resolution on Wednesday to state that all mirasi archakas (hereditary priests) must be retired on reaching the age of 65. In his place, Venugopala Deekshitulu has been hired as head priest at the Lord Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala.
Ramana has alleged that the Tirupati temple administration misuses the offerings, as per Zee Media reports. He has also leveled allegations against Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, saying that that the he chooses the board members and has diverted approximately US$14.7 million of temple funds for his political use. TTD is an independent trust which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. It also manages many other temples in Tirupati and all around the world.