Sudhakar (50) was held for carrying the licenced revolver with six cartridges kept concealed under the seat of their car while his 25-year old son Harshavardhan for dumping eight bullets in a dustbin just ahead of the security point.
Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which governs the cash-rich shrine, Ake Ravi Krishna said the firearm, with licence issued for Maharashtra, was found during the routine security check heading for the hill shrine.
A seer saw the son dropping some bullets into a dustbin as the car approached the security point and alerted the personnel, Ravi Krishna, a senior IPS officer on deputation to the TTD, said.
Later the two, hailing from Thane, were handed over to Tirumala police and further investigation was on, he said.
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Sudhakar, his wife and son were travelling to Tirumala to offer worship at the Lord Venkateswara temple.
The officer felicitated the seer for alerting the security personnel about man disposing of the bullets.
Carrying a firearm with licence issued for one particular state was itself a crime, he said adding taking even a small knife to Tirumala was strictly prohibited as also liquor, tobacco and other intoxicants.
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