68 lakh kg of ghee without procuring single drop of milk: CBI with more shocking discoveries in Tirupati laddu fraud 

VIJAYAWADA: The Central Bureau of Investigation-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy. This comes after the uncovering of the major fraud involving the supply of adulterated or "fake" ghee for the preparation of the sacred laddus, the main prasad of the Tirupati Venkateswara temple. Dharma Reddy was questioned today after nine hours of continuous questioning on Tuesday. YSR Congress Party Lok Sabha MP and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy will also be questioned soon.

Officials headed by CBI DIG Murali Rambha reportedly questioned A.V. Dharma Reddy about his alleged lapses in ghee procurement, inspection of suppliers and quality control measures during his tenure. He was asked how Bhole Baba Dairy, which was blacklisted by TTD in 2022, was distributing ghee through proxy firms. The SIT had recently arrested Ajay Kumar Sugandha, who supplied various chemicals to Bhole Baba Dairy.

The SIT investigation found that Bhole Baba Organic Dairy in Uttarakhand did not procure a single drop of milk or butter from anywhere, but 68 lakh kg of ghee was supplied to TTD between 2019 and 2024 by routing contracts through proxy dairies, including Nellore-based Vyshnavi Dairy, Uttar Pradesh-based Mal Ganga Dairy and Tamil Nadu-based AR Dairy Foods. The investigation team also found irregular transactions worth Rs 50 lakh in connection with the incident.

Y.V. Subba Reddy's personal assistant K Chinnapanna is accused of receiving money from hawala agents linked to Uttar Pradesh-based Premier Agri Foods Private Limited. The investigation team also found that Ajay Kumar, the 16th accused in the case, had been working together with Bhole Baba Dairy directors Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain for many years. Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain were also arrested by the investigation team.

Political controversy was sparked in Andhra Pradesh after Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made a statement in September 2024 that animal fat was used to make laddu, the prasad of the Tirupati Venkateswara Temple, during the Jaganmohan Reddy government. The BJP state leaders had demanded a CBI investigation. The matter then reached the court.