Tirupati: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the preparation of the revered Tirupati laddoo prasadam.
The arrests follow a Supreme Court directive from October last year, ordering a CBI-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations that adulterated ghee was being supplied for the laddoo preparation at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy (Roorkee, Uttarakhand); Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda, CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy (Poonambakkam); and Raju Rajasekharan, MD of AR Dairy (Dundigal).
According to officials, the accused were interrogated for three days in Tirupati but remained uncooperative despite primary evidence suggesting their involvement in the ghee adulteration scheme.
Investigation Uncovers Supply Chain Manipulation
The inquiry uncovered multiple irregularities in the procurement and supply of ghee, including the use of forged documents and counterfeit seals to secure tenders. Investigators found that Vaishnavi Dairy falsely claimed to be sourcing ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy, despite the latter’s inability to meet demand. Discrepancies in supply records and falsified documentation further substantiated the allegations.
The SIT conducting the probe comprises officials from the CBI, the Andhra Pradesh government, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Political Controversy Surrounding the Case
The controversy first erupted in September last year when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat had been used in preparing the Tirupati laddoo during the tenure of the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government.
The allegations triggered a political storm, with the YSR Congress Party dismissing Naidu’s claims as baseless and politically motivated. Meanwhile, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) circulated a laboratory report purportedly supporting the accusations.
As part of the probe, the SIT reviewed TTD records related to ghee procurement under the previous administration, examining procurement processes and quality verification protocols.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities expected to take further action based on the findings.
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