Police said the fake passes resembled the original free special passes issued by the district administration to special guests. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Three people were arrested near the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai on Wednesday for selling fake parking tickets to devotees to park vehicles inside the city on Maha Deepam (December 3).
The arrested persons have been identified as K. Silambarasan, 30, an employee of the temple, R. Babu, 44, and G. Munusamy, 39. Silambarasan printed fake special passes and distributed them to devotees, especially from neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, to park their vehicles near the temple in the city. Each ticket was sold between ₹200 and ₹500.
Police said the fake passes resembled the original free special passes issued by the district administration to special guests, including senior government officials and elected representatives, to park their vehicles in designated parking lots. Police said the existing temporary parking lot is located far from the city, making it difficult for devotees, especially senior citizens and women, to go to the temple for darshan on Maha Deepam day.
Acting on a tip-off, the Tiruvannamalai East police searched the Yatri Nivas accommodation complex in the city and found fake special passes on the suspects. A case was registered and the arrested were lodged in a sub-jail in the city. Another probe is underway.
Published – 03 Dec 2025 23:56 IST
