Tirumala Laddu Adulteration: SIT Arrests Four in Connection with Ghee Scandal
The arrested individuals are Bipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda, CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy, and Raju Rajasekharan, MD of AR Dairy. These individuals were questioned for three days in Tirupati, where they were found to be uncooperative, despite the presence of primary evidence linking them to the case.
Investigations have revealed that AR Dairy had a contract to supply ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), but the dairy was involved in multiple irregularities. In particular, Vaishnavi Dairy was found to have manipulated the tender process by submitting fabricated documents and using AR Dairy’s name for the supply of ghee. Fake records were created to make it appear that ghee was sourced from Bhole Baba Dairy, which, authorities found, did not have the capacity to supply the large quantities required.
The SIT conducted inspections at various locations, including Tirumala, Tirupati, and AR Dairy’s facility in Tamil Nadu. The investigation revealed serious flaws in the supply chain and the ghee’s adulteration. AR Foods from Tamil Nadu had won a tender to supply ghee at Rs. 320 per kilogram. However, when the ghee arrived on July 8, 2024, lab tests on samples taken from four tankers confirmed adulteration with impure substances, as reported by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Lab on July 17.
The SIT includes senior officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and state officials. The investigation follows allegations made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in September 2024, claiming that animal fat had been adulterated in the ghee used to prepare the Tirumala laddus during the YSR Congress Party rule, sparking outrage among devotees.
TTD uses around 15,000 kg of cow ghee daily to prepare the sacred laddus for devotees. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the adulteration and hold those responsible accountable.
