Alleging that a few YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders were complicit in the theft of foreign currency valued at around ₹100 crore from the Tirumala temple’s ‘Parakamani’ hall, IT Minister Nara Lokesh said on Saturday that the full picture of the sins committed by them in 2019-24 would come out soon.

In a message on X, Mr. Lokesh said lawlessness was the hallmark of the YSRCP rule, when the State became a safe haven for mafia dons, thieves and other anti-social elements, who not only plundered natural resources like mines, lands and forests but also the people.

They did not spare even the wealth of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. Apparently, they had the backing of then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and then TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, the Minister alleged.

Mr. Lokesh alleged that the stolen money was invested in real estate, and claimed that the accused themselves hinted that the former Chief Minister and others who were part of the conspiracy received their share with Mr. Karunakar Reddy acting as the conduit.

Further, the Minister said Mr. Karunakar Reddy and his followers tried to have the matter compromised through the Lok Adalat after the theft came to light, but to no avail as the issue could still not be hushed up.

Far worse were the alleged adulteration of the Tirumala laddu, which was considered highly sacred by the devotees around the world, and commercialisation of darshans, which made it nearly impossible for the ordinary devotees to have a glimpse of the Lord.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his party leaders did not heed the advice of N. Chandrababu Naidu (then Leader of the Opposition) to not meddle with the affairs of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), but went ahead with their nefarious activities and paid the price for it, Mr. Lokesh added.