Hyderabad, June 29: The Tirupati East Police has busted a racket and arrested 10 people for allegedly selling Srivari Darshan token in the black market here.
On a specific information, police yesterday conducted raids at TTDs Srinivasam complex, bus stand and at Alipiri, where Srivari Darshan tokens issued to the pilgrims through biometric system, and nabbed all the 10 people, including the kingpin of the racket, identified as Sendhil (35). He confessed to selling the free Sudarshan tokens after taking through biometric system at various counters providing by TTD, at higher costs to the pilgrims, particularly from Tamil Nadu and North India, East police station Circle Inspector Sudhakar Reddy said in a press conference here.
He told the police that their main job was to identify pilgrims who were hard pressed for time and lure them with early Darshan on extra payment, the CI said.
At least 80 free Sudarshan tokens and Rs 800 was recovered from the gang, the CI added. The police was also investigating about involvement of any TTD employee in issuing of Darshan tokens to the gang.
Heavy pilgrim rush was witnessed at Tirumala due to weekend and the TTD management has cancelled issuing of cellar tickets either on recommendation letters or through cellar issuing counter to clear the common pilgrims rush waiting in queues for the Darshan of lord Balaji and imposed Mahalagu Darshan.
–UNI–