Visakhapatnam: Chittoor police, in coordination with Kancharapalem police, arrested a fraudster on January 19 for deceiving devotees by promising special and VIP darshans at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. The accused, 29-year-old Panja Ramana Prasad from Bhimavaram, West Godavari, was apprehended near Madhavadhara East Park in Visakhapatnam.
Prasad had been illegally booking online slots and collecting lakhs from unsuspecting devotees under the guise of securing exclusive darshans. Despite multiple complaints, he continued his fraudulent activities even after cases were registered against him in 2021 and 2022. Evading arrest for years, he frequently moved between cities to escape law enforcement.
Acting on intelligence, Chittoor police traced his location and, with the help of Kancharapalem police, successfully arrested him. He has been transferred to Tirupati for further investigation. Officials praised Constable Narayana and Kancharapalem CI Ravi Kumar for their crucial role in the operation.
Authorities have urged devotees to remain cautious and book darshan tickets only through official channels to avoid falling prey to such scams.
