Employee arrested for stealing gold worth ₹46 lakh from Tirumala Temple
text_fields
Tirupati police have arrested a 40-year-old outsourced employee of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), V. Penchalayya, for allegedly stealing 650 grams of gold offerings worth ₹46 lakh from Lord Venkateswara Swamy's temple.
Penchalayya, who worked in the temple’s Parakamani section, is accused of stealing gold in the form of biscuits and jewelry on 10 to 15 occasions over the past year. The Parakamani is responsible for sorting devotees’ offerings, including cash, gold, and other valuables. While cash is deposited in a bank, the valuables are securely stored.
Penchalayya, employed in the Parakamani for two years, was caught attempting to steal a gold biscuit by concealing it in a vehicle. He was arrested on January 12, and the entire 650 grams of stolen gold was recovered.
The accused has been charged under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal breach of trust and was remanded into custody on Monday.