Even after the investigation confirmed Rs 1.67 crore worth 33,686 saris were misappropriated at Sri Kanakadurga Temple in Indrakiladri, Vijayawada, the previous YCP regime buried the scam and protected the accused. Surprisingly, even after change of the government no efforts are being initiated to take action in this regard.
The endowment department is acting as if it has nothing to do with it. When the cash was checked in the saree department in October 2019, it was found that there was a difference of Rs. 11.61 lakhs. The junior assistant Subrahmanyam, who worked in the saree department from May 2018 to August 2019, was considered responsible for this and was suspended on five charges.
After that, he returned to duty in March 2020 after a turnaround in the Commissioner’s office. In June 2022, during an audit, it was found that 77 silk sarees worth Rs. 6,49,000 had gone missing. Subrahmanyam was held responsible for this and was suspended again with seven charges.
A committee was formed in December 2022 under the leadership of AEO P. Sudharani to investigate the irregularities in the saree department. After examining all the records, it was found that the scam took place when Subrahmanyam was in-charge of the saree department.
According to the records, it was concluded that 33,686 sarees worth Rs. 1.66 crore had gone missing from the godown. It was found that there were no indents, orders or sales details related to them. Moreover, it was recorded that each saree was sold twice, and the sarees used in Khadgamala Puja were sold to devotees.
In this way, another difference of Rs. 1.42 lakhs was found related to 566 sarees. It was concluded that a total of Rs. 1.67 crore worth of sarees were misused. After an in-depth investigation for three months, the committee submitted its report on March 15, 2023.
The committee suggested that the Rs. 1.67 crore that was diverted in the saree department should be returned to the temple within 10 days. Notices were immediately issued to the responsible junior assistant who was under suspension.
But when Subramaniam approached the court, the court ordered him to issue another notice and take action. In the meantime, the YSRCP, after pleasing the rulers, turned the wheel again in the office of the Endowment Department Commissioner and once again devised a plan to delay the time in the name of investigation.
This time, the Kanipakam EO was appointed as the investigating officer. That’s all, and the saree scam did not move forward. That officer did not come and investigate. The employee responsible came back and joined the duties. Even though the irregularities were revealed with solid evidence, not a single rupee was paid.