Cops to open sheets against touts in Tirumala

Tirumala: The cops took a decision to open rowdy sheets on touts, who were repeatedly caught for selling Srivari darshan tickets to devotees at exorbitant rates.

In a meeting held recently, TTD Special Officer (SO) AV Dharma Reddy asked Tirupati Urban SP KKN Anburajan to deal firmly with touts. The SO tightened the issuing of Arijtha seva and other special darshan tickets under discretionary quota of officials. Tirumala cops had arrested four persons from Chittoor and Prakasam districts, who were actively involved in black marketing of darshan tickets.

Another two touts are absconding from Tirumala, said police. Few days ago, Tirumala I Town police took a photostat shop owner Tirupati Prem Kumar into custody for his involvement in black marketing of tickets. The cops came to know that the AP Tourism App was misused by Prem Kumar for booking darshan tickets.

Now, the hill shrine police are investigating to know who were behind the racket of selling darshan tickets in black market. On the instructions of Urban SP, Tirumala police are collecting the details of habitual touts and those who are in black market business for several years. Speaking to The Hans India, Anburajan stated the Tirumala police used to register cases against touts and send them to judicial remand based on the complaints of TTD Vigilance officials. If the accused caught selling of darshan tickets repeatedly then Tirumala police would open rowdy sheets against them and would be put under the surveillance, he said, adding it would curb the black marketing of tickets.