TTD stampede case: YSRCP says panel’s findings are predetermined, calls for CBI probe

Amaravati/Tirupati: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has rejected the findings of Justice M Satyanarayana Murthy Commission report on the Vaikuntha Ekadashi stampede in Tirupati.

The YSRCP has also demanded a CBI inquiry, alleging that the judicial probe was biased and aimed at making lower-level officials into scapegoats.

Commission indicts DSP and TTD director

The judicial commission, which investigated the January 8 stampede during ticket issuance for Vaikuntha Ekadashi darshan, held then Tirupati DSP Ramanakumar and TTD Gosamrakshana Shala Director Haranath Reddy responsible for the mishap.

It recommended criminal proceedings against them for their alleged negligence that led to the deaths of five devotees and injuries to several others. The report was submitted to the state Cabinet on Thursday.

Gate opening triggered chaos

According to the commission, DSP Ramanakumar, who was tasked with managing queues and security at the ticket issuance centre set up at Ramanaidu High School, arrived late for duty and acted negligently.

While trying to help an elderly woman out of the crowd, he opened a gate without proper precautions, triggering the deadly stampede. The report stated that he failed to coordinate with inspectors managing block-wise movement of devotees to counters.

Negligence by TTD director

The commission also found that Haranath Reddy, though appointed as the overall in-charge of the token issuance centre, confined himself to supervising only the counters and failed to oversee the entire process, describing it as gross negligence.

Clean chit to SP, probe into JEO’s role

While giving a clean chit to then Tirupati SP Subbaraidu, the commission observed negligence on the part of TTD JEO Gowthami for failing to supervise the ticket distribution process adequately. It is recommended that the General Administration Department examine what action should be taken against her.

YSRCP calls inquiry biased

Rejecting the report, former TTD chairman and YSRCP leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy said the findings appeared predetermined and selective, letting off senior officials while blaming a few lower-rung officers.

“The report let off the main persons responsible, including TTD, Revenue, and senior police officials, and made only two people scapegoats,” he alleged while addressing the media in Tirupati on Friday.

Party demands CBI investigation

Karunakar Reddy demanded a CBI probe, stating, “The entire inquiry seems like an eyewash and a case study for all future inquiries. The main culprits have been spared, and only small-time officials were blamed.”

He pointed out that while DSP Ramanakumar and Haranath Reddy were held responsible, no mention was made of the officers who ordered the holding points where devotees were kept.

Karunakar Reddy also questioned why Haranath Reddy, who was suspended, was singled out while another official, Suryaprakash, present at the counters, was let off.

Failure of the coalition government is alleged

Karunakar Reddy further blamed the coalition government for discontinuing the ten-day extended darshan system introduced by the previous YSRCP government in consultation with religious heads, which was aimed at reducing crowding during Vaikuntha Ekadashi.

“Due to a lack of proper arrangements by the current government, lakhs of devotees suffered,” he said.

He added that despite tall claims by leaders like CM Chandrababu Naidu and deputy CM Pawan Kalyan after the incident, the outcome of the inquiry was not satisfactory.

Recommendations for future safety

Meanwhile, the commission recommended strict crowd management protocols to prevent such incidents in the future and suggested that TTD administration and police implement better safety measures to protect devotees visiting the Tirumala temple.