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SIT Led by CBI Arrests 4 in Tirupati Laddu Scam, Officials Confirm Major Food Safety Violations: Fake Documents and Fraud Uncovered
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested four people linked to the case of ghee adulteration in Tirupati laddoo prasadam. Bipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, Uttarakhand, Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda, the CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy, Tamil Nadu, and Raju Rajasekharan, MD of AR Dairy, Telangana, have been arrested.
Tender Manipulation and fake documentation detected during investigation
The arrest comes after an extensive inquiry on the supply of adulterated ghee used to prepare the divine Tirupati laddoos. The investigators detected tender manipulation, fake documents, and false source claims.
According to reports, the officials of Vaishnavi Dairy secured tenders under the name of AR Dairy. They claimed to source ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy, which cannot supply the required quantity of ghee.
National Outcry Over Adulterated Ghee Allegations
The case has been receiving national attention after reports surfaced last year about the alleged use of adulterated ghee in the sacred prasadam. A lab test had indicated traces of animal fat in the ghee samples, leading to a political and religious outcry.
The Supreme Court asked a special investigation team (SIT), which included CBI officials, police personnel from Andhra Pradesh, and an expert from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to investigate the charges.
Authorities find widespread violations
During the investigation, authorities uncovered significant violations, including the use of falsified documents and unauthorized procurement of ghee. The accused were taken into custody after three days of interrogation in Tirupati, where they were reportedly uncooperative despite strong evidence against them.
Concerns Over Tirupati Laddoo’s Sanctity
As many as three lakh laddoos are prepared here every day. The TTD reportedly uses 1,500 kg of ghee daily. The revelation caused an alarm among devotees and authorities.
Investigation underway to identify further involvement
The arrests mark a major step towards the sanctity of the Tirupati laddoo, a revered offering for millions of devotees. Further investigations are being conducted to find out the extent of adulteration and other entities involved in the supply chain.