TTD files Rs 200-cr libel against Deekshithulu

​Tirupati: Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board has come under attack for paying a huge amount of Rs 2 crore as defamation fee for the suit it had filed in the X Additional District Session Judge, Tirupati, here.

Claiming Rs 200 crore as damages from former chief priest of Tirumala temple AV Ramana Deekshithulu and YSR Congress Party senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP V Vijaysai Reddy (each Rs 100 crore), TTD filed a suit (Registration Number 264\\2018) in the Additional District Session Judge here on October 8. The filing of the defamation case in the court remained under wraps till the leaders of BJP and Congress came out with the details of the case filed by the TTD, here on Tuesday. 

Though, the TTD authorities including chairman Putta Sudhakar and Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal at a media conference, a few months back, said that TTD will file a defamation case against Deekshithulu and others if they did not cease from making “wild and baseless allegations” against TTD, damaging its image and reputation and creating aspersions in the minds of devotees, everyone including the media is clueless and surprised on the filing of the case after the bitter verbal war between TTD and others, including Deekshithulu.

Deekshithulu retired against his will from the post of chief priest in May last leading to the priest levelling series of charges against TTD administration and many political leaders followed suit, hitting the headlines in the media.

On Tuesday addressing a media conference, BJP party state spokesperson Samanchi Srinivas strongly objected TTD paying a whopping amount as defamation fee as it is tantamount to misuse of the devotees’ money. He also sought the TTD to make the details of the case and clarify on whose –whether TTD or its official or the God reputation was damaged and how.

"It is for the first time such a huge amount is being paid as defamation fee at the cost of devotees valued contribution,’’ he said charging that TTD officials in order to please their political bosses resorted to the legal course despite it is a costly affair and time taking.