Tirumala ghee adulteration case: Nothing to hide, ready for lie detector test, says YV Subba Reddy

New Delhi: To prove his integrity in the Tirumala ghee adulteration case, former TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy stated that he has nothing to hide and is ready to face any inquiry, even a public lie detector test in front of the media.

The YSRCP Parliamentary Party Leader strongly criticised the TDP for what he called a politically driven campaign aimed at maligning the reputation of the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.

‘False propaganda by ruling party’

He accused the party and its affiliated media of spreading false and unverified information regarding the laddu prasadam, despite the SIT probe still being in progress.

He said that fabricated leaks and baseless narratives were being circulated to damage the international image of the sacred shrine.

‘Being unfairly targeted only due to association with Jagan’

Subba Reddy emphasised that his long association with the temple, both as a two-term Chairman and a Member of Parliament, has always been guided by a commitment to preserving its sanctity. He shared that his family has a legacy of serving Tirumala and that he has taken Ayyappa Deeksha nearly 30 times.

Yet, he claimed, he is being unfairly targeted due to his association with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Recollecting past events, Subba Reddy said it was Chandrababu Naidu who first alleged the use of animal fat in laddus while he was Chief Minister—an accusation that forced Subba Reddy to seek legal recourse in the Supreme Court to protect the temple’s dignity.

“If I had anything to hide, why would I go to the Supreme Court?” he questioned.

‘Subba Reddy claims accountability of adulteration is with ruling party’

Referring to the ongoing case, he pointed out that the TDP’s accusations fail to establish whether the issue involved vegetable or animal fat, or even whether the tankers alleged to be contaminated entered the production line.

He noted that TTD’s regular laboratory checks prevent inferior ghee from being used.

The tankers now under scrutiny arrived in June–July 2024—during the TDP rule—and were rejected on quality grounds. According to the SIT, they were rerouted in August, again under TDP’s administration. Therefore, he asserted, if adulteration occurred, accountability lies with the current ruling party.

‘Claims about 20 crore laddus being adulterated are fake’

He further clarified that the same lab functioned under both regimes, but during his tenure, NDDB-supported equipment worth Rs 80 lakh was installed to improve quality checks. He condemned claims that 20 crore laddus between 2019 and 2024 contained adulterated ghee, calling the accusations politically motivated.

Explaining the procurement system, he said the TTD sources ghee from multiple suppliers every six months, and no single firm provides the full requirement. The supplier involved in the tanker controversy supplied to TTD for the first time. While TDP is questioning YSRCP over a purchase price of Rs 326 per kg, the previous government itself bought ghee at Rs 276, Rs 279, and Rs 295 per kg. If pricing suggests impurity, those transactions too must be investigated, he argued. He demanded a full 10-year SIT inquiry instead of a selective probe.

He also pointed out that after raising adulteration allegations, the TDP government purchased ghee at Rs 475 per kg in September 2024, which, by their own logic, should be questionable.

Subba Reddy explains his contributions as TTD Chairman

Defending his tenure, he said he had never misused his authority in handling large contracts.

He noted that revising inflated tenders for Srinivasa Setu saved TTD nearly Rs 90–100 crore. Funds worth Rs 1,200 crore locked in YES Bank during the previous administration were immediately shifted to nationalised banks, preventing potential loss.

VIP privileges were curtailed, plastic use was reduced, and all offerings were prepared using organic and cow-based products. Support was extended to over 516 goshalas, while milk and ghee from TTD’s 100 cows were used for the deity.