Tirupati laddu adulteration case: TDP seeks accountability as ED arrests ghee firm owner

The ghee used to prepare “Tirupati Laddu” prasadam was allegedly manufactured using refined palm oil, palmolein, and various chemicals, the ED said on Friday (September 18) after it arrested a ghee manufacturing company promoter on money laundering charges.

The federal probe agency said in a statement that Kailash Chand Mangla of Sukriti Foods was taken into custody on September 17 by the Hyderabad office of the ED in connection with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case.

He was produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Visakhapatnam, which sent him to judicial custody, it said.

The agency claimed its probe found that adulterated ghee (used to prepare Tirupati Laddu prasadam) was allegedly manufactured using Refined Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Palmolein, and various chemicals, including MG-90, Monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400, and Acetic Acid Ester, and was subsequently supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee for supply to TTD.

‘Rs 230 cr worth of adulterated ghee’

The alleged fraudulent supplies of ghee to TTD during 2019-2024 were valued at Rs 230 crore, and out of this, Rs 96 crore of adulterated ghee was manufactured by Mangla, it claimed.

The agency said Mangla was one of the co-conspirators in the case, facilitated the procurement of adulterants, and manufactured adulterated ghee at his factory premises.

"He also coordinated the supply of adulterated ghee through various front entities, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products, and AR Dairy Foods," it said.

Also Read: Syndicate used adulterated ghee in Tirupati laddus, committed 'sacrilege': CM Naidu

"Mangla created and maintained false records relating to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil, with the objective of concealing the actual utilisation of adulterants and creating an appearance of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee," the ED alleged.

The agency had earlier arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of a company named Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, on similar charges.

TDP leader demands ‘full accountability’

The ED’s findings in the alleged Tirupati laddu adulteration case point to systemic adulteration over five years of the previous YSRCP government, TDP leader Jyosthna Tirunagari alleged on Saturday (September 19).

Also Read: Tirupati laddu case: In final chargesheet, CBI names TTD employees, ghee suppliers as accused

“The ED’s findings point to a deeply disturbing pattern: nearly Rs 230 crore worth of adulterated ghee was allegedly supplied to TTD between 2019 and 2024. This was not an isolated incident - it indicates large-scale, meticulously planned, systemic adulteration over five years of the previous YSRCP government that demands full accountability,” she told PTI.

(With agency inputs)