Vigilance staff of TTD and Tirupati excise officials, on Monday, destroyed liquor bottles containing 190 litres, seized from pilgrims during regular baggage check-up in August and September at Alipiri.
Assistant vigilance and security officer (AVSO) B Jahawarlal said they seized 110 litres and 80 litres in August and September respectively. Generally, Tirumala receives huge influx of pilgrims during March, April and May.
In June, vigilance officials said 135 litres of liquor was seized in the three summer months (32 litres in March; 34 in April and 69 in May). However, the quantity is lesser than that seized in August and September. Further, the TTD organised nine-day Salakatla Brahmotsavams in September when pilgrims arrived in large numbers, but the seizure of liquor is less in that month than August.
Jahawarlal said as per section 114(3)of the Endowment Act, begging, soliciting, consumption of liquor, tobacco, or narcotics, smoking, eating non-vegetarian food and gambling are prohibited on the sacred hills of Tirumala. The guilty are liable for imprisonment up to three months and/or will have to pay a fine up to `500, the AVSO said.
Asked about liquor trafficking to Tirumala, he said there were no such cases in the last two months.
Excise Inspector V Chandrasekhara Reddy appealed to pilgrims not to carry any prohibited material to Tirumala.
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