Man held on charge of duping devotees in Tirumala darshan-ticket racket

In a major crackdown on a burgeoning darshan-ticket racket, the Tirumala police on Tuesday arrested 30-year-old Burigala Ashok, also known as Ashokkumar Reddy, from Chandragiri (about 11 km from Tirupati), for allegedly duping devotees by promising VIP darshan, seva tickets, and accommodation. Posing as an influential event organiser, he reportedly collected large sums through digital payments. The arrest came after a detailed complaint by the TTD Vigilance wing.

Investigations revealed that the accused had collected around ₹4.16 lakh from multiple victims, and his overall transactions over the past year are suspected to have exceeded ₹1 crore. Police also seized his mobile phone, bank documents, and a motorcycle allegedly used in carrying out the racket. Cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Tirumala I and II Town police stations.

Authorities have cautioned devotees against falling prey to touts, reiterating that all bookings for darshan and sevas must be made solely through official TTD platforms. They also warned of strict action against touts and fraudsters.