Andhra Pradesh government removes Sekhar Reddy from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board

The decision to remove Reddy from the Board was taken by AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu, according to sources

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to expel J Sekhar Reddy, from Chennai, from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board, following an Income tax raid in his residence and other locations has resulted in seizure of a large amount of currency and bullion.

The decision to remove Reddy from the Board, which manages the wealthiest temple in the country Tirumala Tirupati temple, was taken by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, according to sources.

The Department of Income Tax Department at Chennai has started searches in the case of a group engaged in sand mining, allegedly including Reddy, on Thursday and has seized Rs 106.52 crore of cash and 127 kilogram of gold, according to a department release. Raids were conducted in eight premises including six residences and two offices.

"During the search, Rs 96.89 crore cash on old high denomination notes and Rs 9.63 crore in new Rs 2,000 currency notes along with gold weighing 127 kgs worth approximately Rs 36.29 crore were found and seized, as unaccounted assets," said the official announcement.

More specific details including modus-operandi would emerge after examination of the documents and other evidence detected during the search, it added.

According to the Devasthanams website, Reddy was one of the 16 members of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board.