A Muslim couple from Chennai has donated Rs 1 crore to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), a nonprofit organisation that oversees a number of Hindu temples, notably the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. According to media reports, the couple met with TTD executive officer Dharma Reddy on Tuesday and presented him with the draft.
Subeena Banu and Abdul Ghani made the donations, which comprise a draught of $15 lakh for the Sri Venkateswara Anna Prasadam Trust and Rs 87 lakh in furniture and utensils for the recently constructed Sri Padmavathi Rest House.
All worshippers in Tirumala and Tiruchanoor receive free food, known as “Annaprasadam,” thanks to the Sri Venkateswara Anna Prasadam Charity; the trust estimates that every day, close to two lakh people are fed.
According to the reports , Ghani has donated to the TTD in the past too.
He reportedly gave a tractor-mounted equipment in 2020 to sanitise temple grounds in case of pandemic. Additionally, he gave a vegetable delivery truck worth 35 lakh rupees.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the TTD found itself embroiled in controversy after actor-politician Archana Gautam claimed some of its staff had demanded a 10,000 bribe to facilitate her worship of the idol of Lord Venkateswara. Gautam ran unsuccessfully for the Congress in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections held between February and March.
The TTD, on the other hand, said that Gautam had misbehaved and insulted employees.