RACKET: TTD employee booked for black-marketing VIP break darshan tickets in Tirumala

TIRUPATI: A case has been registered against a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) staffer for his alleged involvement in the black marketing of VIP break darshan tickets in Tirumala. The errant employee was M Sankar, who works as a mazdoor in the engineering wing of TTD.

Tirumala II Town police told Deccan Chronicle that Sankar sold six VIP break darshan tickets to a group of devotees from Hyderabad at an exorbitant price of Rs 42,000 each. The actual price of these tickets was only Rs 3,000.

The vigilance and security wing of TTD received information regarding the illicit activities and conducted a check at the break darshan ticket counter in Vaikuntam Queue Complex on Wednesday morning.

Upon questioning a Hyderabad-based devotee group that had purchased VIP break tickets, it was revealed that Sankar sold them six such tickets.

During an inquiry, it came to light that Sankar obtained the six tickets by misusing a recommendation letter of an MLC. The vigilance and security wing lodged a complaint at the Tirumala II Town police station. The police subsequently took Sankar into custody.

The TTD authorities have appealed to all devotees to avoid approaching touts or middlemen for darshan tickets or accommodation in Tirumala. Instead, they must book tickets through the official TTD website.