TTD liquor racket cover-up alleged by ex-TTD chairman on Tirumala hill
Synopsis
A former TTD chairman has alleged that police and temple administration officials falsified an FIR to conceal liquor and gutka seizures on Tirumala hill, claiming nearly 1,000 bottles reach the sacred site daily. The demand for CCTV footage and phone-location records puts the current TTD chairman directly in the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy alleged on 23 August that a liquor and gutka racket is operating on Tirumala hill with official cover.
Eega Ramu was allegedly caught with 182 quarter bottles of liquor near Kousthubham Guest House on 21 August , but the FIR reportedly lists the location as Alipiri Link Bus Stand .
Bhumana alleged that nearly 1,000 quarter bottles reach Tirumala daily, resold at ₹350–₹500 against a purchase price of around ₹120 .
He demanded CCTV footage from three locations and phone-location records of SI Srivani and Eega Ramu .
Naidu was directly challenged to release evidence; the administration had not formally responded at the time of reporting.
Former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy on Sunday, 23 August alleged that TTD Vigilance, the local police, and the TTD administration were collectively suppressing evidence of a major liquor and gutka racket operating on the sacred Tirumala hill. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader demanded immediate release of CCTV footage and phone-location records to establish the facts.
What Was Allegedly Seized and Where
According to Bhumana, a person identified as Eega Ramu was apprehended near Kousthubham Guest House on 21 August between 7.30 pm and 8 pm while allegedly supplying 182 quarter bottles of liquor to an individual named Balaji. Separately, a person named Eega Priya was reportedly caught near Nagateertham carrying thousands of gutka packets.
Both arrests, Bhumana alleged, took place on Tirumala hill — yet the First Information Report (FIR) records the location as the Alipiri Link Bus Stand the following morning. He demanded an explanation for the discrepancy in the stated location.
Key Demands and Allegations
Bhumana called for the release of CCTV footage from Kousthubham Guest House, Nagateertham, and the Alipiri Link Bus Stand, as well as the phone-location records of Sub-Inspector Srivani and Eega Ramu at the relevant times. He also questioned why the caste details of the accused were specifically noted in the FIR, calling it irregular.
He further alleged that nearly 1,000 quarter bottles of liquor reach Tirumala daily, with bottles purchased at around ₹120 being resold on the hill for ₹350 to ₹500 each — pointing to an organised, profit-driven supply chain operating within one of India's most revered pilgrimage sites.
Direct Challenge to Current TTD Chairman
Bhumana directly challenged sitting TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu, saying: 'If B.R. Naidu has the courage and integrity, he should release the CCTV footage, phone locations and records instead of issuing statements. The evidence will establish where they were actually caught and why the facts were changed in the FIR.'
He demanded a comprehensive probe into who is running the racket and, critically, who is providing it protection within the system.
Context and Significance
Tirumala hill, home to the Sri Venkateswara Temple, is among the world's most visited pilgrimage destinations, drawing tens of thousands of devotees daily. The temple complex is governed by strict codes of conduct, with the consumption and possession of alcohol and tobacco products prohibited on the hill. Allegations of a systematic supply chain operating in defiance of these rules — and of official complicity in covering it up — represent a serious challenge to the credibility of the TTD administration.
This comes amid broader political tensions in Andhra Pradesh between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led alliance and the opposition YSRCP, with the TTD chairmanship itself a politically sensitive appointment. The TTD administration had not issued a formal response to these specific allegations at the time of reporting.
Point of View
It implies coordinated falsification of a police record at one of India's most sensitive religious sites. The broader claim of 1,000 bottles reaching the hill daily suggests not opportunistic smuggling but an organised supply chain, which cannot function without systemic failure or active complicity. The demand for CCTV footage and phone-location data is precise and verifiable — either the evidence exists and will be released, or its non-release will itself become the story. With the TTD chairmanship carrying political weight in post-election Andhra Pradesh, the risk is that accountability gets subordinated to factional positioning on both sides.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the former TTD chairman alleged about Tirumala hill?
Former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy has alleged that a large-scale liquor and gutka racket is operating on Tirumala hill, with TTD Vigilance, police, and the TTD administration collectively suppressing evidence. He claims nearly 1,000 quarter bottles of liquor reach the hill daily.
What is the FIR discrepancy at the centre of the controversy?
Bhumana alleged that two individuals — Eega Ramu and Eega Priya — were caught on Tirumala hill on 21 August, but the FIR records their arrest location as the Alipiri Link Bus Stand the following morning. He has demanded CCTV footage and phone-location data to verify the actual site of seizure.
What evidence has Bhumana demanded be released?
He has demanded CCTV footage from Kousthubham Guest House, Nagateertham, and the Alipiri Link Bus Stand, along with phone-location records of Sub-Inspector Srivani and Eega Ramu at the time of the alleged seizures.
Why is alcohol prohibited on Tirumala hill?
Tirumala hill is the site of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of India's most visited pilgrimage destinations. The TTD enforces a strict code of conduct on the hill that prohibits alcohol, tobacco, and gutka as part of maintaining the sanctity of the religious complex.
Has the TTD administration responded to these allegations?
The TTD administration had not issued a formal response to Bhumana's specific allegations at the time of reporting. TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu was directly challenged by Bhumana to release the CCTV footage and records rather than issue public statements.
