NE LEGAL BUREAU
TIRUPATI, NOV 28
The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has arrested a serving official of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) in the sensational laddu prasadam ghee adulteration case, marking a major breakthrough in the ongoing probe.
The arrested official, RSSVR Subrahmanyam, a senior engineer with the TTD Engineering Department and former General Manager (Procurement), was taken into custody on charges of approving inferior and adulterated ghee for use in the sacred laddu prasadam. He is the 29th accused in the case and the first serving TTD official to be arrested. The ACB Court has remanded him to 15 days’ judicial custody.
- 20 crore laddus allegedly made with spurious ghee (2019–24)
- Fake dairy network, bribes & quality certificate fraud unearthed
- The ACB Court remands him to 15 days’ judicial custody
Quality Certificates for Bribes: SIT
According to IG Sarvasresti Tripathi, a member of the SIT, Subrahmanyam was part of the technical inspection team responsible for vetting ghee manufacturing units. He allegedly inspected units, cleared suppliers, and issued quality certificates in exchange for bribes, establishing a nexus between TTD’s marketing wing and private dairies.
The arrest was based on corroborative statements from previously arrested accused, which exposed direct links between TTD staff, brokers, and fraudulent suppliers.
Former TTD Top Brass Under SIT Scanner
The SIT has recently questioned:
- Former TTD Chairman and YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader YV Subba Reddy
- Former TTD Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy
Investigators examined the alleged lapses in procurement, supplier verification, and quality control during their tenures. Dharma Reddy was specifically questioned on how Bhole Baba Dairy, blacklisted in 2022, allegedly continued supplying ghee through proxy entities.
40% Laddus Contained Adulterated Ghee: SIT Findings
The SIT has revealed alarming details:
- Between 2019 and 2024, TTD produced 48.76 crore laddus
- Of these, 20 crore laddus (nearly 40%) contained palm oil, palm kernel oil and other chemical additives
- Adulteration is suspected to have been systemic and sustained over several years
The probe also led to the arrest of Ajay Kumar Sugandh, who supplied chemical additives to Bhole Baba Dairy.
Fake Dairy, Massive Fraud
According to the SIT, Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, based in Uttarakhand, never procured milk or butter, yet managed to supply nearly 68 lakh kg of spurious ghee—worth ₹250 crore—to TTD between 2019 and 2024.
The supply was routed through proxy dairies including:
- Vyshnavi Dairy (Nellore)
- Mal Ganga Dairy (Maharashtra)
- AR Dairy (Tamil Nadu)
The promoters allegedly operated a fake desi ghee manufacturing setup exclusively for this fraud.
Political Links Probed
Last month, SIT arrested K. Chinna Appanna, a close aide to former TTD chairman Subba Reddy and his personal assistant for a decade. He allegedly facilitated the awarding of contracts to ineligible private dairies.
SC Intervention Ensures Independent Probe
The alleged laddu scam surfaced after the TDP-led coalition government assumed office in June 2024. Although the State set up an SIT in September, several petitions challenged its legality and independence.
In October 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a new, independent five-member SIT, replacing the State-appointed panel.
The SC-mandated SIT comprises:
- Two CBI officers
- Two senior Andhra Pradesh police officers
- One FSSAI official
The investigation continues, with more arrests and interrogations likely as the SIT uncovers the full extent of the scam involving one of India’s most revered temple institutions.
