Shocking revelations have surfaced in connection with a major theft at the famed Tirumala temple’s Parakamani, the department responsible for counting and safeguarding devotee offerings. Vireshetty Penchalayya, a contract employee, has been arrested for stealing gold and silver items worth approximately Rs46 lakh.
Penchalayya, a resident of Korlagunta Maruti Nagar, Tirupati, had been working for over two years at the Parakamani under a contract with Agrigos Company. Driven by greed, he began smuggling valuables from the Parakamani storage facility.
On Saturday, his luck ran out when vigilance officers caught him red-handed while trying to conceal 100 grams of gold biscuits in a trolley pipe during transportation duties. CCTV footage confirmed the theft. Penchalayya had accessed a tray of valuables while shifting goods between floors of the Parakamani building.
Following the discovery, he was handed over to Tirumala police and confessed to committing multiple thefts in the past. Authorities recovered:
555 grams of gold biscuits
100 grams of gold jewellery
157 grams of silver articles
The total haul is valued at nearly ₹46 lakh.
This incident follows similar thefts at the temple complex. In April 2023, clerk CV Ravi Kumar attempted to steal Rs900 (Rs72,000) and was apprehended. In November 2024, a devotee from Tamil Nadu, Venu Lingam, was caught stealing Rs15,000 from a donation box.
The case has intensified scrutiny on temple security, and officials have promised a deeper audit and tighter monitoring.
