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A major breakthrough has been reported in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) laddu ghee adulteration case, with a Central Bureau of Investigation–led Special Investigation Team (CBI–SIT) formally arraigning seven TTD officials and five external dairy experts for their alleged role in supplying 68 lakh kg of adulterated ghee to the temple over five years.
According to the SIT memo submitted to the Special Police Establishment & Anti-Corruption Bureau (SPE & ACB) Court in Nellore, the accused colluded with multiple private dairies to supply substandard or adulterated ghee for use in the temple’s famed laddu prasadam. Dairies implicated include Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, Vyshnavi Dairy, Malganga Dairy, AR Dairy Foods and several others, who benefited from contract allocations allegedly enabled through falsified inspection reports and internal collusion.
Laboratory analyses earlier commissioned by the trust had reportedly detected palm-oil-based fats and chemical adulterants in several batches of ghee used by the temple. The TTD uses nearly 15,000 kg of ghee per day for laddu production, making it one of the largest institutional ghee purchasers in the country. The scale of the alleged fraud — valued at approximately ₹250 crore over five years — has caused widespread concern among devotees and raised questions about procurement governance.
The SIT has also highlighted significant lapses in TTD’s e-tendering and quality-control processes, revealing how unqualified dairies were awarded multimillion-rupee contracts based on manipulated reports and compromised inspections. Earlier this year, four individuals — including directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, the CEO of Vyshnavi Dairy and the MD of AR Dairy Foods — were arrested for their alleged roles in the supply chain.
With the latest arraignment of 12 individuals, investigators indicate the probe is entering its final phase. Officials have stated that more arrests are likely, with additional staff from TTD’s marketing and procurement wings under scrutiny. The CBI has also sought extended custody of former procurement GM RSSVR Subrahmanyam to investigate deeper links between internal staff, dairy suppliers and potential political interference.
The unfolding scandal — involving the supply of nearly 68 lakh kg of adulterated ghee to India’s richest temple trust — has ignited debate on institutional accountability, food safety oversight and the need for reforms in procurement and lab testing systems across religious and public institutions.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Nov 30th 2025 Read full story here
