Tirupati (AP), Oct 28 (PTI) A Hyderabad-based industrialist today made an offering of Rs 1.28 crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala with a request to utilise it for the free meal scheme.

BVVSN Raju, Director of Max Infra India Private Limited, handed over a demand draft for the amount to Joint Executive Officer of the cash-rich temple K S Srinivasa Raju, Public Relations Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the shrine, T Ravi told PTI.

He requested TTD to utilise the fund for the TTD-run free meal trust - Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust, he added.

Raju earlier offered prayers at the temple.

"On an average, about one lakh meals are served free of cost daily to devotees visiting the shrine by making use of the interest earned on deposits to the tune of more than Rs 1,000 crore received as donations from philanthropists," the PRO said.

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