Tirumala TTD Official Mendu Lokanadham Arrested in ₹5 Crore Disproportionate Assets Case

Tirupati: Mendu Lokanadham, Deputy Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), has been arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a disproportionate assets case after a series of searches allegedly uncovered unaccounted assets worth nearly ₹5 crore.

The ACB conducted searches at Lokanadham's residence and other locations over two days as part of its investigation. Following the searches, the TTD official was taken into custody and brought to the ACB office for questioning.

Searches were also conducted at properties linked to his relatives, with investigators examining property records, financial documents and other evidence.

Gold, silver and cash recovered

According to the ACB, investigators recovered valuables including:

• 2 kg of gold
• 6.5 kg of silver
• ₹12.5 lakh in cash
• Gold, silver and platinum jewellery
• Property-related documents
• Details of multiple properties
• Four fixed deposits

The assets and valuables identified during the searches have been provisionally estimated at nearly ₹5 crore. The ACB said the investigation and searches are continuing.

Case linked to information from Tirumala laddu probe

The latest action reportedly followed information shared by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the Andhra Pradesh ACB concerning alleged disproportionate assets held by certain TTD employees.

The development comes against the backdrop of the CBI investigation into alleged adulteration of ingredients used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus. After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet and shared relevant information with the state anti-corruption agency.

The ACB had previously registered a case against K. Chinna Appanna, who served as personal assistant to former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy, on April 22, 2026.

After gathering additional evidence, the ACB registered a separate case against Lokanadham under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.

The case has been registered as Crime No. 06/RCA-TCT/2026.

Properties allegedly linked to Lokanadham

Investigators recovered records relating to several properties allegedly acquired by Lokanadham and, in some instances, registered in the names of his family members.

The properties mentioned by the ACB include:

• A house in PK Layout, Tirupati, registered in his wife's name.
• Two house plots and a building in Gollavanigunta, Tirupati, also registered in his wife's name.
• A house plot in Padiredu Aranyam village, Vadamalapeta mandal, Tirupati district.
• A house plot in Srinivasa Nagar, Tirupati Urban, registered in his son's name.
• Four fixed deposits held in the names of Lokanadham and his son.

A search at the residence of Lokanadham's brother-in-law also resulted in the seizure of a property document valued at approximately ₹31.98 lakh, which was jointly held by his wife and others.

Lokanadham's decades-long TTD career

Lokanadham has been associated with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for several decades.

He joined TTD as a Junior Assistant on February 1, 1989, on compassionate grounds. He subsequently moved through positions including Senior Assistant, Superintendent and Assistant Executive Officer before becoming a Deputy Executive Officer at Tirumala.

The ACB's investigation into the alleged disproportionate assets remains ongoing. Officials are expected to examine the seized documents, financial records and property details as they determine the extent of the alleged assets.