Amaravati, January 04, 2026: A drunk youth from Telangana breached security at the historic Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple in Tirupati on January 2 night, climbing the main gopuram after the temple's Ekantha Seva ritual.
Identified as Kuttadi Tirupati (also reported as Kuthadi Thirupathi), a resident of Nizamabad district who works as a construction laborer in the area, he evaded vigilance staff, jumped over a wall, and ascended using makeshift poles or barricades.
He reached near the sacred kalashams, attempted to tamper with them, and shouted demands for a quarter bottle (90 ml) of liquor, threatening to jump otherwise.
Temple security, Tirupati police, and fire personnel responded swiftly. After a nearly three-hour operation involving persuasion and careful climbing from the opposite side, they safely brought him down without reported injuries or major damage. Police registered a case and took him into custody at Tirupati East station for further investigation.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) confirmed prompt action but acknowledged the breach highlighted security gaps at this busy shrine near the railway station.
