Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Special Officer A V Dharma Reddy, on Saturday, denied that he was responsible for the suicide of a temple employee V M Suresh, even as TTD employees protested in front of the TTD administrative building demanding his immediate arrest.
The agitating employees alleged that Dharma Reddy had been harassing Suresh to the extent that he was forced to take his life by hanging himself.
The protestors warned that they would intensify their agitation and boycott duties till the time action is taken against Dharma Reddy.
Suresh had taken the extreme step by hanging himself on Friday, at his residence near the ISKON temple, after being allegedly unable to bear the 'offensive behaviour' of the Special Officer. He was recently shifted to the TTD accounts department from his earlier post as the Personal Assistant to the Special Officer at his Camp Office.
Suresh was reportedly interrogated by Dharma Reddy for over an hour on the Arjitha Seva ticket scam, after being summoned to the camp office. He was accompanied by 2 of his friends during the questioning, it is learnt.
Suresh returned from the camp office late at night, and took the extreme step the next day.
Police sources say that a suicide note was found in Suresh's residence. The police are probing whether the suicide is linked with the Arjitha Seva scam.