A man, claiming to be a doctor from Guntur, tried to carry a human skeleton in his car to Tirumala but was stopped at the Alipiri gate by personnel of the Special Protection Force on the night of January 14, it is learnt.
According sources in the SPF, the securitymen, however, failed to nab him A securityman, who was on duty at the toll gate, noticed the skeleton in the car while conducting a routine check of vehicles around 10.
30 pm on Sankranti.
On being questioned, the traveller said his name was Gowtham and that he was doctor from Guntur. He explained that he had bought the skeleton for the purpose of his medical practice but failed to say where and from whom he bought it. Nor did he produce the purchase bills or any other related document when demanded.
While police, SPF and vigilance officials were engaged in a discussion on under whose purview the case fell, the motorist quietly gave them the slip and made good his escape without visiting the shrine. The heavy pilgrim rush and vehicle flow to Tirumala on account of the festival aided his escape.
The police, security and vigilance officials were shocked by the his unexpected escape but preferred not to complain to their higher officials fearing that they would have to face action for letting the culprit go scot-free. And, they have hushed up the matter.
Checking of vehicles and baggage was recorded by the CC cameras in place at the Alipiri toll gate and the incident could be verified by going through the video footage, the source said.