APSHRC seeks report on illegal sale of VIP tickets at Tirumala

The Andhra Pradesh state Human Rights Commission today sought reports from the Principal Secretary and Superintendent of Police, Tirupati after allegations of black-marketing of VIP darshan tickets at Tirumala and over-booking of cases against devotees.

Some TDP and BJP leaders approached the APSHRC here and filed separate petitions alleging that VIP darshan passes were illegally sold at high prices. They also complained over registration of false cases against devotees in Tirumala.

Following the complaints, the APSHRC called for a report from Principal Secretary (Endowments) over the matter by January 30. The Commission further directed the Tirupati (Urban) Superintendent of Police to file a report regarding registration of cases against devotees by the same date.

The Tirumala Two Town police had earlier registered a case against devotees for staging protest on January 12 (Vaikunta Dwadasi).

Following a complaint lodged by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Vigilance Inspector Govinda Reddy, the case had been registered on the devotees for staging a sit-in at the TTD Chairman K Bapiraju’s camp office.

According to police, any kind of dharna or demonstration is prohibited at the temple top.