TTD Vigilance Wing Busts Fake Sed Ticket Racket
Tirupati: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) vigilance and security department has uncovered a counterfeit Special Entry Darshan (SED) ticket racket worth Rs 300. The scam allowed devotees unauthorised access to Lord Venkateswara’s darshan using forged tickets. The racket was exposed at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex, where suspicious activities prompted TTD vigilance officials to detain several devotees for questioning. Investigations revealed that taxi drivers were acting as intermediaries, selling counterfeit tickets. Five key suspects were identified, including Lakshmipathi, an employee at the SED counter, and Manikanta and Bhanu Prakash from the fire department. Taxi drivers Sashi (Tirupati) and Jagadeesh (Chennai) were also implicated. Lakshmipathi allegedly exploited his position to facilitate access for devotees with forged tickets, while Manikanta and Bhanu were involved in producing the fake passes. The gang reportedly collected Rs 19,000 from eleven devotees from Hyderabad, Proddutur, and Bengaluru. The suspects have been handed over to the One Town Police for further investigation. TTD authorities have urged devotees to avoid unauthorised ticket channels and to book tickets exclusively through the official TTD website to prevent such incidents.
Tirupati: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) vigilance and security department has uncovered a counterfeit Special Entry Darshan (SED) ticket racket worth Rs 300. The scam allowed devotees unauthorised access to Lord Venkateswara’s darshan using forged tickets.
The racket was exposed at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex, where suspicious activities prompted TTD vigilance officials to detain several devotees for questioning. Investigations revealed that taxi drivers were acting as intermediaries, selling counterfeit tickets.
Five key suspects were identified, including Lakshmipathi, an employee at the SED counter, and Manikanta and Bhanu Prakash from the fire department. Taxi drivers Sashi (Tirupati) and Jagadeesh (Chennai) were also implicated. Lakshmipathi allegedly exploited his position to facilitate access for devotees with forged tickets, while Manikanta and Bhanu were involved in producing the fake passes.
The gang reportedly collected Rs 19,000 from eleven devotees from Hyderabad, Proddutur, and Bengaluru. The suspects have been handed over to the One Town Police for further investigation.
TTD authorities have urged devotees to avoid unauthorised ticket channels and to book tickets exclusively through the official TTD website to prevent such incidents.
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