TIRUMALA: A theft occurred at the Tirumala Srivari Hundi on the 23rd of this month when a man from Tamil Nadu, identified as Venu Lingam, stole cash from the steel hundi (donation box) in the temple. The incident took place around 2:00 PM, but it was only later discovered after the security team reviewed CCTV footage.
The security personnel identified the theft from the footage, which showed Venu Lingam taking the cash. Based on this information, the police managed to apprehend him at 6:00 PM on the same day. The stolen sum, totaling ₹15,000, was recovered from him.
After his arrest, the thief was handed over to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Vigilance officials, who subsequently transferred him to the police for further legal action. The incident has raised concerns about the security measures at one of India’s most visited temples, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year.
Authorities are investigating how the theft occurred despite existing security measures. They are also taking steps to strengthen the security protocols at the temple to prevent such incidents in the future.
