Two devotees hailing from Assam were apprehended for using a drone to capture footage of the Tirumala shrine, in violation of TTD rules.
The unauthorised drone activity was observed by fellow devotees on Ghat Road at the 53rd bend, who took pictures of the individuals involved. The vigilance wing of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) took immediate action, detaining the two devotees for questioning.
The TTD officials are currently investigating how the devotees managed to bring the drone with them without detection at the security checkpoint located at Alipiri.
The TTD, responsible for managing the affairs of the Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, had previously dealt with alleged drone visuals circulating on social media platforms. However, officials dismissed the likelihood of a drone camera being used, suggesting that the footage may have originated from still photography.
Emphasising the stringent vigilance and security measures in place, TTD officials affirmed that capturing video footage through a drone camera within the Tirumala vicinity is implausible. In response to the incident, the TTD initiated a probe last year and issued a stern warning that any individual caught using drones to film the temple would face criminal charges.
According to Agama Shastra rules, the flying of aircraft or drones over the hill shrine is strictly prohibited. The TTD remains committed to upholding the sanctity and security of the sacred Tirumala premises.
