Nellore: Police arrested three youths for alleged consumption of liquor on the holy Tirumala hills on Tuesday morning. According to Tirumala One Town police, a press photographer has taken the snaps of the three enjoying drinks under the galleries close to Archaka Nilayam in North Mada Street of Tirumala near Varahaswamy temple around 9 am. The photos got circulated in Whatsapp and a police party went up to the spot, but the three had already left the place.
“With the help of the photos we have started a search and noticed their presence in Tirumala in one hour’s time,” police said. Cops recovered a 90 ml liquor bottle from the spot. The three were B. Balaji, 19, of Pathapalem in Bagepalli mandal of Kolar district in Karnataka, Seenu, 25, and Naveen, 23, of Tirupati.
Police also detained their friends but released them as they not consume liquor. Police said they have handed over the accused to the Excise department.
Taking a serious view of the incident, TTD vigilance department is also probing into the incident. When asked about the bottle finding its way into the holy hills despite the strict ban and thorough checking at Alipiri, TTD Vigilance and Security Officer Y. Ravindra Reddy said the youths managed to bring the bottle by strapping it to the leg with a belt.
