Controversy surrounds India’s richest temple: TTD’s net worth and leadership explained

 Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the board which manages Venkateswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh is once again surrounded by controversy. This time over a fake silk shawl scam that spans over a decade.

A vigilance inquiry found that the fabric supplier passed off polyester shawls as pure mulberry silk shawls, violating tender documents. The scam which took place from 2015-2025, cost the temple board Rs 55 crore, as per the inquiry.

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TTD Chairman BR Naidu said that they have directed the anti-corruption bureau to investigate the matter. Speaking to the media, he said, “A shawl worth Rs 350 was sold to us for Rs 1,300. A total of more than Rs 50 crore was spent on the supplies.”

This scam comes after a string of controversies rocked the temple including Tirupati laddu adulterated ghee scandal and Parakamani theft case.

What is the net worth of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam?

As per latest available data, TTD is worth about Rs 3 lakh crore, making it the richest religious institution in India and one of the richest in the world. It includes cash, fixed deposits, gold and over 900 properties across the country. The wealth has been accrued from annual offerings and donations, making it wealthier than many corporations.

TTD Trust:

The TTD is a conglomeration of many temples and the board of trustees are appointed by the state government. The executive officer is the chief executive of the board. He is joined by two joint executive officers, chief vigilance and security officer, chief accounts officer, financial advisor, conservator of forests and chief engineer.

Currently, BR Naidu is the chairman of TTD. It maintains 12 temples, their sub-shrines and has 14,000 employees.