ACB Books TTD Deputy EO Lokanatham in ₹5 Crore Disproportionate Assets Case

The Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a disproportionate assets case against TTD Deputy Executive Officer Mendu Lokanatham after searches in Tirupati reportedly unearthed property documents, financial records, cash, gold and silver. The agency said the assets under scrutiny are estimated to be worth around ₹5 crore.

The searches were carried out simultaneously at four locations in Tirupati early Tuesday, covering Lokanatham’s residence as well as the houses of his relatives. ACB officials examined documents relating to immovable properties, bank deposits and other financial holdings and seized several records and valuables as part of the investigation.

The investigation has brought several properties allegedly linked to Lokanatham and his family under the agency’s scrutiny. Among the documents recovered were those relating to a house in PK Layout, Tirupati, which was registered in his wife’s name. Officials also found records for two housing plots and a building at Gollavanigunta, also purchased in his wife’s name.

Additional property documents were recovered during the searches. These included records pertaining to a house site at Padiredu Aranyam village in Tirupati district and another plot in Srinivasanagar, within the Tirupati Urban limits, registered in the name of Lokanatham’s son. Investigators also identified details of four fixed deposits held in the names of Lokanatham and his son.

Searches at the residences of Lokanatham’s brothers-in-law reportedly yielded documents relating to a joint property held in the names of his wife and others. The ACB has put the value of the property at approximately ₹31.9 lakh.

Apart from property-related records, officials reported recovering 2 kg of gold, ₹12.5 lakh in cash and 6.5 kg of silver during the searches. The agency said the case was registered under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.

The ACB has linked the latest action to information that emerged during the CBI investigation into allegations concerning adulteration of Tirumala laddu prasadam. According to the agency, details relating to assets allegedly disproportionate to the known income of some TTD employees were collected during the CBI probe. Following the completion of the investigation and filing of the chargesheet by the CBI, the information available to the ACB was taken up for further action.

The latest case follows another disproportionate assets investigation involving a former TTD functionary. The Visakhapatnam ACB office had registered a case on April 22, 2026, against K. Chinna Appanna, who had worked as the personal assistant to former TTD chairman Y. V. Subba Reddy.

Lokanatham began his career with TTD on February 1, 1989, joining as a Junior Assistant through compassionate appointment. He later served as a Senior Assistant, Superintendent and Assistant Executive Officer before being promoted to the post of Deputy Executive Officer. He is currently serving as Deputy EO at Tirumala.