How A ₹54 Crore Fake Silk Dupatta Scam Rocked Tirupati Temple Trust

A ₹54 crore scam involving fake silk dupattas has shaken the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), raising serious questions about trust, oversight, and accountability in one of India’s most revered institutions.

According to investigators, polyester dupattas were allegedly supplied and sold as “pure silk” for years, directly violating TTD procurement rules. These dupattas were meant for devotees and temple-related distribution, where silk quality is strictly regulated due to religious and ethical standards.

The fraud reportedly unfolded through manipulated tenders, inflated bills, and weak quality checks. Suppliers allegedly passed off cheaper synthetic fabric as silk, pocketing massive margins while official records continued to certify the material as authentic. Over time, the scale quietly ballooned — eventually touching ₹54 crore.

The issue came to light after internal scrutiny and complaints triggered deeper verification of procurement records and fabric testing. Once discrepancies were confirmed, the case was handed over to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is now probing the role of officials, vendors, and middlemen involved.

In simple terms: faith-linked procurement was treated like a profit opportunity.

Why this matters: For devotees, offerings and temple materials are not ordinary commodities — they are tied to belief and trust. When large institutions handling public faith operate at massive scale, even small oversight failures can turn into long-running scams. Young citizens watching this case are questioning why transparency often comes only after damage is done.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and responsibility will be fixed. But the episode has already exposed a deeper concern — when systems fail quietly, it’s public trust that pays the highest price.