Tirupati laddoo adulteration: 20 crore prasad made with contaminated ghee, says TTD

Tirumala: An estimated 20 crore laddoos at the revered Tirupati shrine were prepared using adulterated ghee, authorities have confirmed, as the investigation into impurities found in the temple’s prasadam continues.

According to media reports, TTD Trust Board chairman BR Naidu said that between 2019 and 2024, a total of 48.76 crore laddoos were produced, and the 20-crore estimate was derived from calculations based on temple footfall, procurement records, and production and sales data.

The adulteration scandal, which surfaced last year, deeply hurt the religious sentiments of lakhs of devotees due to the sanctity attached to the Tirupati laddoo. The case is currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The SIT has found that 68 lakh kg of adulterated ghee, reportedly mixed with palm oil, palm kernel oil, and other toxic substances, worth about ₹250 crore, was supplied by Bhole Baba Dairy in Uttarakhand and several shell companies linked to it.

An estimated 11 crore devotees visited the temple during the five-year period, and officials say there is no mechanism to identify which devotees received laddoos containing adulterated ghee. The TTD has also acknowledged that even VVIP laddoos were not distinguishable in the distribution process.

The SIT recently questioned former TTD chairman and YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy for eight hours. When asked why ghee consignments were cleared despite a laboratory detecting adulteration, he claimed the report was never brought to his notice, stating that procurement was based on technical committee recommendations. His former assistant Chinna Appanna has been arrested in connection with the case.

Former TTD Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy has also been examined by investigators. The SIT has submitted its key findings to a court in Nellore, and a supplementary chargesheet is expected by December 15.