Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Supplied 68 Lakh Kg Fake Ghee, Probe Finds
A special investigation team led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI-SIT) has found that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) received roughly 68 lakh kilograms of adulterated ghee from a single dairy firm between 2019 and 2024. The supplier, based in Uttarakhand and identified as Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, reportedly never procured any milk or butter, but still supplied ghee worth around ₹250 crore.
Adulteration Method and Contract Abuse
The investigation reveals that the dairy used palm oil, palm kernel oil, hydrogenated fats, mono- and diglycerides, beta-carotene and ghee essences to manufacture a synthetic product disguised as desi ghee. It then supplied this to the TTD through proxy dairies, even after being blacklisted in 2022. In one instance, four tankers of ghee rejected by TTD after testing for animal fat were allegedly re-labelled and re-supplied to the trust.
Institutional Implications
This scandal affects the famed laddu prasadam of the Tirumala temple and raises serious questions about procurement, quality control and oversight within a major religious trust. The findings point to lapses in monitoring, contract award and storage systems. The SIT case includes charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and related statutes. Close-to-final reports suggest further arrests and asset-seizures may follow as the probe expands.
