Tirupati Temple Trust Cheated Of ₹55 Crore In Silk Dupatta Scam; 5 Ways To Spot Real Vs Fake Silk

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust that manages the revered Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, has now claimed a scam involving fake silk dupattas supplied to the shrine. The scam, worth crores, came to light after the trust’s chairman ordered a detailed check. Here’s what we know so far. 

Tirupati Temple Uncovers Scam Involving Fake Silk Dupattas 

The trust of the Tirupati Temple, Andhra Pradesh, has uncovered a major scam worth nearly ₹55 crore. According to a report by The Economic Times, TTD has alleged that a supplier cheated them for almost a decade (2015-2025) by delivering polyester dupattas while charging for pure mulberry silk. This has caused a huge loss to the temple trust.

The scam surfaced after the TTD chairman, BR Naidu, ordered a detailed enquiry. The dupattas, called Pattu Sariga dupattas, hold great importance in temple rituals. They are presented to donors and Veda Aseervachanam recipients during the ceremonies, including Vedasirvachanam at the Temple.

Also Read: Tirupati Temple Offers Free Special Darshan Tickets To Devotees Who Donate Blood

Fake Dupattas Failed Every Silk Standard

As per The Economic Times, TTD procures thousands of these silk dupattas every year with bills running into crores. But the enquiry revealed that the material supplied did not meet silk standards or TTD tender norms.

Here’s what the original silk dupattas should include:

• The dupattas must be woven from pure mulberry silk. 
• They must have 20/22 denier yarn in both warp and weft with a minimum resultant count of 31.5 denier. 
• Each dupatta should carry ‘Om Namo Venkatesaya’ in Sanskrit on one side and Telugu on the other.
• Temple symbols, including Sanku, Chakra, and Namam, must be displayed on the dupatta.
• Size, weight, borders and finishes must follow strict guidelines.

Samples collected from the TTD warehouse failed to meet any of these criteria. Samples sent to the Central Silk Board labs in Bengaluru and Dharmavaram confirmed that the dupattas were 100% polyester. According to Moneycontrol, the trust board has cancelled all existing tenders with the supplier and referred the case to the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

5 Ways To Make Out The Difference Between Mulberry Silk & Polyester: 

Though the Tirupati Temple dupattas are unique in their weave and symbols, you should also know how to tell the difference between pure mulberry silk and polyester. Here are some easy tests you can conduct to know the difference: 

1. Label test: Mulberry silk will be labelled as 100% mulberry silk, while polyester often uses misleading terms.

2. Shine test: Mulberry silk has a soft, natural shimmer that changes under light; polyester has a flat shine.

3. Feel & warmth test: Mulberry silk feels soft and buttery, cool at first but warms quickly when rubbed; polyester stays cool.

4. Sound test: Mulberry silk creates a faint rustling sound; polyester has no sound.

5. Burn test: Mulberry silk burns slowly with a burning-hair smell; polyester burns fast and smells like plastic.

Also Read: Tirupati Temple Given 68 Lakh Kg Fake Ghee Worth ₹250 Cr Over 5 Yrs, Reveals Investigation

The recent scam at the Tirupati Temple is surely not what anyone expected. Let’s hope strict action is taken against the supplier who sold polyester dupattas to the trust.

Cover Image Courtesy: Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala, Wikipedia/Nikhil B and Canva Pro/ Seemanta Dutta (Representative Image)