TIRUPATI: Actress Archana Gautam, who lost on a Congress ticket from Hastinapur constituency in Meerut district in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections, has slammed the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for the rude behaviour of its staff.
The actress posted a video in which she is seen being heckled away by some TTD staff and vigilance guards.
In the video which she posted on Twitter, Archana accused the temple body of "turning the sacred Hindu temple into a commercial centre" where devotees are being looted.
She also faulted the TTD management for forcing devotees to pay Rs 10,500 for a VIP darshan ticket and appealed to Andhra Pradesh government to intervene and order an enquiry to "end this loot immediately".
Actor slapped employee who tried to pacify herTTD authorities, however, denied the allegations. They said the actress, along with seven others, came to Tirumala on Tuesday (Aug 30) with a recommendation letter from a Union minister, following which they were sanctioned darshan tickets for Aug 31 costing 300 each. But they did not come for darshan on the allotted date.
The actress came to the TTD office the next day (Thursday, Sep 1) and became angry when told that if she wanted a VIP break darshan ticket, she can buy it by paying Rs 10,500.
She abused the temple staff, and also slapped an employee when he tried to pacify her. Later she went to Two Town police station and lodged a complaint that TTD staff had misbehaved with her.
The police called the temple staff who showed cops the video taken by them in which the actress' misbehaviour could be seen.