Sun Jan 12 10:52:28 UTC 2025: ## Tirumala Temple Hit by Gold Theft Scandal
**TIRUMALA, January 12, 2025** – The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), already grappling with the fallout from a previous multi-crore rupee embezzlement scandal, is now facing accusations of gold theft. An outsourced employee, identified as Penchalayya, was apprehended on Saturday attempting to smuggle a 100-gram gold biscuit out of the Parakamani hall, where temple offerings are counted. TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary confirmed the incident, stating that vigilance sleuths caught Penchalayya concealing the gold within a trolley.
The Tirumala police have registered a case and are investigating whether Penchalayya acted alone or was part of a larger conspiracy. The incident has sparked concerns regarding security protocols at the Parakamani building complex, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing measures to protect temple assets. This latest scandal follows closely on the heels of the Parakamani scandal, involving the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of crores of rupees, further tarnishing the image of the revered temple.
First Piper 