Following an income Tax raid on Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board member from Tamil Nadu J Sekhar Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh government decided to remove him from the board.
The decision to expel him from the 16-member TTD Board headed by chairman Chadalavada Krishna Murty was taken by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday.
The present committee, which has three ex-officio members, was constituted through a government order on April, 27, 2015.
However, the Andhra Pradesh government is tight lipped on the reasons why Sekhar Reddy was included as a TTD member. “Sekhar Reddy was always silent at the meetings. It seems that he is more interested in getting VIP Darshan tickets for his followers than doing good work for the devotees,” a former board member said.
The Opposition also criticised the selection of board members without scanning their credentials in running temple affairs.
Sources in TTD said the decision to remove Sekhar was taken by the government and the board had no role in it.
The Income Tax department on Thursday raided several premises of Sekhar Reddy and seized Rs 106.52 crore in cash and 127 kg gold.