The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) on Wednesday reinstalled the Hanuman idol that was stolen from near the 60 foot Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy statue at the Seventh Mile on the first ghat road, after recovering it within 14 hours through a swift, technology-driven operation.TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary said: “The recovered idol was ceremoniously reinstalled in strict accordance to Agama sastra.” He credited the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) and the district police for cracking the case, stating that officials used the accused’s luggage/mobile deposit receipt, Facial Recognition System (FRS) and CCTV footage to identify and track him while he was leaving Tirumala after darshan.Announcing enhanced security measures, Mr. Chowdary said the TTD would install protective grills around small temples and idols along the ghat road, besides upgrading surveillance with high-resolution CCTV cameras to prevent recurrence of such incidents.Appealing to devotees to uphold the sanctity of shrines, he urged them to immediately report any suspicious activity to the TTD’s toll-free helpline or vigilance officials.He added that the TTD’s advanced surveillance network was equipped to swiftly detect untoward incidents and identify those responsible. Published - July 23, 2026 08:31 pm IST