The CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed its final charge sheet in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) laddu ghee adulteration case, naming 36 individuals as accused. The chargesheet, submitted to the ACB Court in Nellore, marks the culmination of a 15-month investigation that spanned across 12 states.

The case revolves around the alleged supply of adulterated ghee to the TTD, which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, one of the world's richest and most visited Hindu temples. This ghee is a crucial ingredient in the preparation of the famous laddu prasadam, offered to millions of devotees.

According to the SIT, the Uttarakhand-based Bhole Baba Dairy, along with some TTD employees and external dairy experts, colluded to supply approximately 68 lakh kilograms of synthetic ghee to the temple trust between 2019 and 2024. The estimated value of this adulterated ghee is around ₹250 crore.

Investigations revealed that Bhole Baba Dairy never procured milk or butter; instead, it manufactured "fake desi ghee" using palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein, and various chemicals. These chemicals included beta-carotene, acetic acid ester, and ghee flavor, which were used to mimic the appearance, texture, and aroma of pure ghee. The dairy also allegedly tampered with standard quality tests to conceal the adulteration.

The SIT investigation revealed that Bhole Baba Dairy used proxy suppliers based in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to sell the adulterated ghee to TTD. In one instance, four containers of ghee supplied by AR Dairy, based in Dindigul, were rejected by TTD due to suspected animal fat adulteration. The investigation found that this rejected ghee was routed back to TTD through Vyshnavi Dairy, located in Srikalahasti.

The accused face allegations of procedural violations, bribery, and falsification of records. The SIT alleges that the accused accepted bribes from suppliers and failed to alert higher authorities about the adulteration, even after receiving reports confirming it. This allowed the continued use of spurious ghee in laddu production.

Initially, the SIT suspected that the adulterated ghee originated in Tamil Nadu. However, further investigation traced the primary source to Uttarakhand. The SIT comprised senior CBI officers, supported by around 30 personnel from the state police, and examined procurement documents, laboratory test reports, and financial records to reconstruct the supply chain.

The investigation also led to the arrest of Ajay Kumar Sugandh, a Delhi-based chemical trader, who allegedly supplied key chemical components to Bhole Baba Dairy for use in the fake ghee. Sugandh reportedly worked with Bhole Baba Dairy directors, Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, for several years.

The list of accused includes not only the directors of Bhole Baba Dairy and its associated entities but also several TTD officials. Pralaya Kaveri Murali Krishna, the TTD General Manager who was the original complainant in the case, has also been named as an accused. Also among the accused are former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy's PA, Chinna Appanna, former SV Goshala director Harinath Reddy, along with former GMs Jagadishwar Reddy and Muralikrishna. External dairy experts who allegedly issued favorable reports without proper checks have also been booked.

While 9 individuals were arrested in connection with the case, 6 of them are currently out on bail. The investigation is ongoing, and the SIT has indicated the possibility of filing supplementary charge sheets in the future.