How A ‘Milkless Dairy’ Supplied Rs 250-Crore Worth Of Fake Ghee For Tirupati’s Holy Laddus

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) laddu ghee adulteration case has arrested Delhi-based trader Ajay Kumar Sugandha for allegedly supplying chemicals

used to produce fake ghee that was later used in making the sacred Srivari laddus.Ajay Kumar, named as A-16 in the case, is accused of supplying monoglycerides, acetic acid and esters chemicals commonly used to refine palm oil to Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt. Ltd. directors Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain for nearly seven years. These substances were allegedly used to create adulterated ghee at the company’s plant near Roorkee, Uttarakhand.According to investigators, the ghee, blended with palm oil, palm kernel oil and palmolein, was supplied to TTD under private labels such as Vaishnavi and AR Dairy. The SIT found that over 90 per cent of the ghee used in laddu preparation had been mixed with palm oil. Evidence of financial transactions and supply records reportedly links Ajay Kumar to the Bhole Baba Dairy network.The SIT revealed that the adulterated ghee was distributed through multiple dairies, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt. Ltd. (Srikalahasti), Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. (Pune), and AR Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd. (Dindigul). The case has stirred massive outrage as the contaminated ghee was used in the preparation of prasadam offered to Lord Sri Venkateswara, deeply hurting the sentiments of devotees.

What Really Happened?

The controversy came to light in September 2024 when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous government of allowing ghee adulteration at TTD. Investigations revealed that despite CFTRI lab tests in 2022 confirming adulteration in ghee samples supplied by Bhole Baba and other dairies, no immediate action was taken.The SIT also unearthed details of alleged bribery involving YV Subba Reddy, the former TTD chairman, and his personal assistant Kaduru Chinnappanna, who reportedly received large sums of money from ghee suppliers in Delhi to continue the contracts despite failed purity tests.Meanwhile, Swachh Andhra Corporation Chairman Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram launched a scathing attack on former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his uncles YV Subba Reddy and Karunakar Reddy, calling the adulteration of ghee an “unforgivable sin at Tirumala.” He accused them of knowingly compromising the sanctity of the Srivari laddus for financial gain and demanded accountability for what he described as an insult to millions of devotees.Ajay Kumar has been remanded in judicial custody till November 21, as the SIT continues to trace the full extent of the supply chain and financial transactions behind the adulteration network.Speaking on the incident, TDP's Nara Lokesh said, "The Supreme Court‑appointed SIT has exposed the truth. The guilty will face the full weight of the law. This isn’t adulteration - it is a deliberate assault on the faith of Hindus, a desecration of our belief, and a crime against the soul of Bharat. Those who played with the sacred must pay the price."

The Supreme Court‑appointed SIT has exposed the truth. The guilty will face the full weight of the law. This isn’t adulteration - it is a deliberate assault on the faith of Hindus, a desecration of our belief, and a crime against the soul of Bharat. Those who played with the… https://t.co/ioSnLVNN6q

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) November 10, 2025

On the arrest in the TTD adulterated ghee case, Dr Vinusha, AP BJP Spokesperson, said, "SIT arrested Ajay Kumar, who used to supply chemicals to Bhole Baba dairy to make adulterated ghee. Former TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy ordered an inquiry into the ghee and later met directors of Bhole Baba dairy. Kickbacks were demanded, and even after knowing that ghee was adulterated, they continued with procurement of ghee. YSRCP should answer about this. It’s a sin, and YSRCP has insulted the crores of Hindus."