ANDHRA PRADESH: SIT Uncovers ₹250 Crore Adulterated Ghee Scam at Tirumala Temple
Fresh revelations in the Tirupati laddu adulteration probe have exposed a shadowy cash handover worth Rs.50 lakh, casting long doubts over the sanctity of offerings at one of India’s holiest sites.
Devotees flock by the millions each year to the Tirumala temple, drawn by the promise of pure prasadam, only to learn of taints in the very ghee that binds its legendary sweetness.
As investigators peel back layers, the scandal stirs fresh outrage over trust betrayed in places of worship.
Uncovering the Cash Connections
Probe teams traced the funds to K.Chinnappanna, aide to YSR Congress Party MP and ex-TTD head Y. V. Subba Reddy.
Sources point to hawala routes from Uttar Pradesh’s Premier Agri Foods Pvt Ltd, with Rs.20 lakh slipping from Delhi agent Aman Gupta and the balance from company official Vijay Gupta.
These discreet exchanges unfolded near Patel Nagar Metro Station, away from prying eyes.
This financial link hints at deeper incentives behind tainted supplies, fueling calls for wider scrutiny of procurement networks.
Officials now comb records for patterns, wary that such dealings could span beyond this sum.
Tainted Ghee’s Hidden Path
The core issue traces to 60.37 lakh kg of substandard ghee, valued at Rs.240.8 crore, funneled to the temple from 2019 to 2024.
Adulterants like palm oil, kernel oil, and palmolein mingled with minimal real ghee, spiked with chemicals such as beta-carotene and acetic acid esters for deceptive flavor.
Production hubs in Uttarakhand’s Roorkee bore the brunt, with Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd at the forefront.
Intermediaries amplified the flow: Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities handled Rs.133.12 crore in dubious batches, Malganga Milk & Agro Products Rs.73.18 crore, and AR Dairy Foods a smaller Rs.1.61 crore slice from Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul.
Directors Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain of Bhole Baba face arrests, underscoring accountability’s bite.
Oversight Failures Fuel the Fire
A 2022 analysis by the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysuru flagged the impurities early, yet deliveries persisted unchecked until 2024.
This gap spotlights potential lapses in vigilance, with questions swirling around why alerts went unheeded during YV Subba Reddy’s tenure as TTD chairman.
He had commissioned those very tests, only for the flawed product to linger.
The Supreme Court stepped in last year, mandating a multi-agency SIT with CBI, state police, and food safety experts to sift facts from fervor.
Justices rebuked overt political grief, insisting faith’s realm stay clear of electioneering, yet greenlit the deep dive to restore confidence.
Echoes of a Bitter Political Clash
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu lit the fuse in September 2024, decrying animal fats in the mix during the prior YSRCP regime under Jagan Mohan Reddy.
A Gujarat lab’s findings on AR Dairy samples cited fish oil, beef tallow and lard traces, though tempered by “false positive” caveats. Naidu’s Amaravati address branded it a desecration, igniting rival barbs.
Counterclaims from suppliers dismiss fish oil notions as absurd, given its costlier profile over pure ghee.
The row underscores tender pressures, where bids for lower rates may have tempted shortcuts, sidelining ethical suppliers like Karnataka’s KMF.
Timeless Tradition Under Threat
Since 1715, the Tirumala kitchen has crafted these golden orbs as divine grace, a ritual over three centuries strong.
Daily output hits three lakh pieces, devouring 1,500 kg of ghee alongside heaps of gram flour, sugar, nuts, and spices. Each bite carries spiritual weight for the faithful.
As the SIT presses on, this probe not only unmasks greed but also challenges guardians of heritage to fortify against future slips.