Tirumala, the popular hill shrine in Andhra Pradesh, is embroiled in a gold coin scam following the alleged misappropriation of 300 gold coins, worth over Rs 15 lakh.

Based on the report of a vigilance officer who conducted the probe, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), an autonomous body which manages the temple affairs, terminated the services of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) P Seshadri and suspended three other officials.

The TTD's Chief Vigilance and Security Officer B V Ramana Kumar, who probed what has come to be known as the case of 300 missing gold dollars, submitted his report on August 5, recommending stringent action against some of the temple board employees.

Based on his report, the TTD took the unprecedented step of dismissing OSD Seshadri whose services were extended after his retirement in 2006.

Seshadri has been the sole custodian of the temple treasury for the last 10 years. Three other officials- deputy executive officer(general) Prabhakar Reddy, deputy executive officer(local temples) A Vasudevan and superintendent of Peishkar office Ramachandra Reddy have been suspended.

The vigilance report had charged all of them with gross dereliction of duty.

"We have taken a serious note of the inquiry report and action will be initiated against some more employees," the TTD Executive Officer K V Ramanachary said.

However, the tough action evoked protests from the TTD employees who staged a sit-in at the temple body's administrative office at Tirupati on Tuesday, demanding revocation of the order.