The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to initiate criminal action and register an FIR in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Parakamani (donation box) theft case. The court instructed both agencies to continue investigating the alleged theft, the suspect’s assets, and the earlier settlement reached at a Lok Adalat.

Court seeks deeper scrutiny and coordination among agencies

The High Court emphasised that the probe must also examine how the case was taken to mediation and settled through a compromise. It ordered the CID and ACB to share information with each other and, if necessary, with the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to ensure a comprehensive investigation.

Taking note of the unexplained death of the complainant, Y Satish Kumar—then part of the TTD vigilance team—whose body was found near a railway track in Anantapur district on November 14, the court asked the CID to submit his post-mortem report in a sealed cover within three days.

The next hearing is scheduled for December 16.

Senior TTD officials questioned; theft traced to April 2023 incident

The CID has already examined several former officials, including ex-TTD chairmen B Karunakar Reddy and YV Subba Reddy, and former executive officer AV Dharma Reddy.

The case began on April 29, 2023, when CV Ravi Kumar, an employee at a mutt linked to TTD, was allegedly caught stealing $900 inside the Parakamani hall—the temple’s donation-counting centre. While a local police case was initially filed, it was soon shifted to a Lok Adalat, where a compromise settlement was reportedly reached. Under this arrangement, Ravi Kumar is said to have offered seven properties worth about ₹40 crore in Tirupati and Chennai as restitution to TTD.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday accused a Trinamool Congress member of using an e-cigarette inside the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, prompting the Speaker to warn MPs about maintaining decorum. E-cigarettes are fully banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.

What triggered the row in Lok Sabha

Raising the matter before Speaker Om Birla, Thakur questioned whether e-cigarettes were permitted inside the House. After Birla said they were not allowed, Thakur alleged that a Trinamool MP had been “smoking e-cigarettes in the House for the past several days” and urged an immediate inquiry. His remarks led several BJP MPs to join the protest, briefly disrupting proceedings.

Birla responded by reminding members to uphold parliamentary traditions and stressed that any such violation would invite action.

Centre reminds of complete ban on e-cigarettes

E-cigarettes are electronic or battery-operated devices that heat liquid—often containing nicotine and flavouring—into an inhalable aerosol. Their manufacture, sale, distribution, import and even possession are illegal in India.

Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh also termed the alleged incident “unfortunate”, noting that the law applies to everyone, including MPs.

Despite the nationwide ban, illegal sales continue in many parts of the country, including near educational institutions, prompting the Centre to issue fresh advisories to states in 2023.

Smoking is also prohibited anywhere within the Parliament complex, as the Parliament Rule Book explicitly states that smoking is “strictly forbidden”.

Investigators probing the Goa nightclub fire that claimed at least 25 lives have uncovered crucial digital evidence showing that owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra booked their Thailand tickets while emergency teams were still battling the blaze at the Arpora establishment.

According to officials, the brothers logged into the MakeMyTrip platform at 1:17 am on December 7, even as rescue teams were attempting to save people trapped inside the burning nightclub. Hours later, immigration records confirmed that they boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 from Delhi to Phuket, departing at 5:30 am.

Transit bail plea in Delhi court

The Luthras’ anticipatory transit bail application came up before the Rohini Court on Wednesday. The plea sought four weeks’ protection from arrest, besides interim relief to facilitate their return from Thailand without immediate detention.

Meanwhile, co-owner Ajay Gupta—earlier untraceable and placed under a Look Out Circular—was taken into custody in Delhi and produced before a magistrate. Goa Police are expected to fly him back for further questioning. Another co-owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla, is also under an LOC.

SIM card issued in ex-driver’s name

Investigators found that the mobile number used by the Luthra brothers was linked to a SIM card issued in the name of Ram Hari Singh, a former driver of the family. When a media team visited the address associated with the number, Singh was not present.
He later stated that he had worked for Siddharth Luthra until the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and had no contact with the family for five years, adding he was unaware that any SIM existed in his name.

Missing luxury vehicles, deserted Goa home

Sources said the family previously owned three vehicles until 2020, but by the time the brothers fled, they reportedly had more than four luxury cars, all of which are now untraceable. Police are probing whether the vehicles were moved deliberately before their departure.

The Luthras’ recently built house in Goa—constructed at significant cost—has remained locked since the fire incident. Only a dog was found inside when authorities visited the property.

An Interpol Blue Corner Notice remains active against both brothers as the investigation continues.