A day after the BJP-led NDA alliance, including the TDP and Jana Sena, accused the previous YSRCP regime and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board of mismanagement in the 2023 Parakamani scam, former TTD chairman and YSRCP leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy hit back, dismissing the allegations as baseless and demanding a CBI investigation.
Speaking at a press conference in Tirupati, Bhumana directly addressed the claims made by state HRD minister Nara Lokesh and alliance leaders, stating, “This is factually incorrect and baseless. I was not the TTD chairman when the Parakamani scam was exposed.”
Daring his political opponents, Bhumana said, “I’m prepared to get my head severed at Alipiri if the TDP alliance can prove that I was the chairman when the scam came to light.” He also demanded a public apology from Lokesh for “misleading the people.”
The former chairman rejected accusations that the previous trust board colluded with the accused to settle the matter. He clarified that CV Ravi Kumar, who was caught red-handed stealing foreign currency notes in April 2023, confessed to stealing for over 20 years — a period during which N. Chandrababu Naidu was the Chief Minister for 15 years.
“Why didn’t Naidu or his appointed TTD boards uncover the scam during their long tenure?” Bhumana questioned.
He also explained that following Ravi Kumar’s arrest, his wife and two daughters, devastated by his actions, nearly attempted suicide. In remorse, they donated seven properties worth Rs14 crore to TTD — a gesture that was only accepted after a board resolution.
Bhumana reiterated that the YSRCP-led board acted transparently and responsibly after the scam surfaced and urged for a fair and independent CBI probe to uncover the full truth.
