The CBI has completed its SIT investigation into the use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of Tirumala Venkaeshwara Swam Laddoo Prasadam and filed the final chargesheet at the ACB Court in Nellore, naming 36 individuals as accused. The probe, conducted over 15 months across 12 states, revealed that the Uttarakhand-based firm ‘Bhole Baba Organic Dairy’ supplied nearly 68 lakh kilograms of counterfeit ghee to Tirumala between 2021 and 2024, valued at approximately ₹250 crore. Investigators found that the dairy never procured a single litre of milk, producing ghee entirely through synthetic methods.
The SIT stated that cheap oils such as palm oil and palm kernel oil were mixed in place of pure cow ghee. To avoid detection in laboratory tests, chemicals including beta-carotene and acetic acid esters were added, along with artificial ghee flavorings to mimic its aroma. The chargesheet noted that these mixtures were deliberately designed to bypass Tirumala’s quality checks.
Several key TTD officials were also implicated in the conspiracy. Seven employees, including former TTD Procurement General Manager Subramanyam, are accused of violating procurement norms and facilitating orders to blacklisted firms. A chemical supplier from Delhi, Ajay Kumar Sugandh, was identified as a key conspirator in the case.
So far, nine of the 36 accused have been arrested. Six are out on bail, while three, including former official Subramanyam, remain in custody. The CBI continues its investigation to uncover the full extent of the fraud and the involvement of other officials and firms.