Tirupati laddu adulteration: CBI- led SIT arrests four including 2 ex-directors of Bhole Baba Dairy

Tirupati: A CBI special investigation team (SIT) has arrested four people in connection with the alleged adulteration of the Tirupati laddus offered as prasadam to devotees at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.

The accused have been identified as Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy; Apoorva Chawda from Vaishnavi Dairy, and Raju Rajasekharan from AR Dairy.

According to the officials, Vaishnavi Dairy officials secured tenders under the name of AR Dairy to supply ghee to the temple. They were involved in creating fake records to manipulate the tender process. Fake records were created, claiming to have sourced ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy in Roorkee. Authorities found that Bhole Baba Dairy did not have the capacity to supply such a huge quantity of ghee.

This case came to light when Andhra Pradesh CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu in September 2024 stated that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime in the state.

Samples sent for testing:

According to officials, TTD approximately uses 15,000 kg of ghee daily for preparing Tirupati laddus. AR Dairy had secured a tender to supply ghee at Rs 320 per kg. On July 8, eight tankers of ghee were delivered, and samples from four tankers were sent for testing.

A report from the Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) lab at Gujarat’s National Dairy Development Board indicated the ghee contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow, and lard (a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig). The sample receipt date was July 9, 2024, and the lab report was dated July 16.

SIT formed in November:

In its October 4 order, the Supreme Court instructed the CBI to investigate the allegations under the direct supervision of the CBI Director.

On the orders of the Supreme Court, the CBI set up a five-member SIT in November 2024 to investigate the allegations of the use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus. The team comprised two officers from the central agency, two from Andhra Pradesh Police, and one from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)