A CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has named 36 individuals in a ₹250-crore ghee adulteration scam linked to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), accusing a network of suppliers, officials, and middlemen of compromising the purity of the revered Tirupati laddu prasadam.
The case relates to the alleged supply of adulterated ghee to TTD between 2019 and 2024, during the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime. The controversy erupted in September 2024 after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that ghee mixed with animal fat, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and chemical substances was used in Tirupati laddu preparation, calling it “a sin against God” that may have affected lakhs of devotees.
Citing reports of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Naidu alleged serious irregularities in procurement, testing, and certification processes. A criminal case was registered at Tirupati East Police Station on September 25, 2024, following which a state-level SIT was formed. On the Supreme Court’s directions, the probe was later handed over to a five-member CBI-led SIT.
The investigationon Tirupati laddu debacle, spanning nearly 15 months and covering procurement routes across 12 states, examined tender documents, transport records, laboratory reports, and financial transactions. Several field inquiries were conducted under the supervision of senior CBI officials.
In January 2026, the SIT filed a multi-volume chargesheet before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Court in Nellore, naming 36 accused. Among the principal accused are Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, directors of Uttarakhand-based Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, who investigators describe as the alleged masterminds. Other key accused include former TTD General Manager (Procurement) Pralaya Kaveri Murali Krishna, former procurement official RSSVR Subrahmanyam, Chinna Appanna, personal assistant to former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy, Apoorva Vinayakant Chawda of Vaishnavi Dairy, R Rajasekharan of AR Dairy, and Delhi-based trader Ajay Kumar Sugandh.
Investigators allege that nearly 68 lakh kilograms of adulterated ghee were supplied to TTD for Tirupati laddu prasadam over five years through forged inspection certificates, fabricated laboratory reports, fake experience credentials, and manipulated tender documents. The illegal operation is estimated to have involved transactions worth around ₹250 crore.
The chargesheet states that bribes were routed through mediators, shell companies, and benami accounts, with payments made through hawala channels to secure favourable approvals and bypass quality checks. Several officials are accused of deliberately overlooking violations in return for monetary benefits.
During the probe, investigators seized mobile phones and digital devices and traced money trails across multiple bank accounts, enabling ineligible dairies to obtain procurement contracts despite failing quality norms.
Based on the SIT’s findings, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in February 2026. The agency is currently examining properties, bank accounts, shell firms, and overseas transactions linked to the accused.
Several prominent figures, including former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy and former Additional Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy, were questioned but were not named in the final chargesheet.
The allegations triggered nationwide outrage among religious leaders and devotees. Sri Embar Jeeyar Swamy of Sriperumbudur termed the episode of Tirupati laddu a “grave injustice to faith,” while Sampathkumara Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji warned that the health of pilgrims may have been endangered. Sri Vidya Srisha Tirtha Swamiji of Karnataka wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking strict action, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded structural safeguards within TTD.
The YSR Congress Party has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that earlier laboratory reports did not conclusively establish the presence of animal fat. Party leaders have accused the ruling TDP-led NDA government of politicising the issue and claimed that previous SIT findings had cleared the former administration.
In February 2026, the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted bail to accused Chinna Appanna, citing the completion of the investigation. The court imposed strict conditions, including surrender of passport, regular reporting to investigators, restrictions on media interaction, and disclosure of assets.
Following the SIT report, the state government constituted a one-man oversight committee to implement corrective measures in procurement and quality control. TTD has announced plans to upgrade laboratory facilities, introduce digital tendering systems, strengthen supplier vetting, and mandate third-party audits.
Officials said the chargesheet on Tirupati laddu contains extensive forensic evidence, financial records, call data analysis, and documentation of inter-state coordination. With the filing of the final report, the case has entered the trial stage before the ACB Court.
Investigators have described the case as one of the largest financial frauds involving a religious institution in India. As proceedings continue, devotees and civil society groups are demanding accountability and long-term reforms to ensure that faith and public trust are never again compromised.
