Tirupati laddu case: A big revelation has happened in the Tirupati laddu controversy. Four people have been arrested in connection with the alleged adulteration in Tirupati laddus. The atmosphere in the country heated up after the claim that fish oil and animal fat oil was used instead of ghee in the prasadam laddu of Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh. Now the revelation has happened.
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row: Tirupati Balaji temple has been a topic of discussion across the country since last year for some special reason, ever since shocking revelations were made about the prasad of this temple. It was claimed about the temple prasad that substandard material and animal fat were used to make the prasad laddus. Now in this case, a special investigation team led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four people in connection with the alleged adulteration in Tirupati laddus given as prasad to devotees at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
4 people arrested
The TDP state office said the CBI investigation team has arrested four people in connection with the case. Those arrested include people from ghee supplying entities including AR Dairy (Tamil Nadu), Parag Dairy (Uttar Pradesh), Premier Agri Foods and Alpha Milk Foods. The investigation revealed serious violations during the supply of ghee, with irregularities at every step. Representatives of Vaishnavi Dairy secured tenders in the name of AR Dairy for ghee supply. Vaishnavi Dairy prepared fake documents and seals using the name of AR Dairy to manipulate the tender process. Vaishnavi Dairy created fake records while claiming to have ordered ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy in Roorkee.
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row | The CBI investigation team has arrested four individuals in connection with the case. The arrested persons include individuals from organizations supplying ghee, including AR Dairy (Tamil Nadu), Parag Dairy (Uttar Pradesh), Premier Agri Foods, and…
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2025
Who all were arrested?
Officials said the arrested people have been identified as former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, Vaishnavi Dairy's Apoorv Chavda and AR Dairy's Raju Rajasekharan. An official said late Sunday night, "Four people have been arrested. Two people (Bipin Jain and Pomi Jain) are from Bhole Baba Dairy, Apoorv Chavda is associated with 'Vaishnavi Dairy' and (Raju) Rajasekharan is associated with 'AR Dairy'."
According to sources, the SIT investigation revealed irregularities in every stage of ghee supply
, which led to the arrests. They alleged that Vaishnavi Dairy officials secured tenders in the name of AR Dairy to supply ghee to the temple and created fake records to manipulate the tender process to secure the tender.
Dairy in the name of Bhole Baba
Sources said the SIT revealed that Vaishnavi Dairy had falsely claimed that it procured ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy while the officials found that Bhole Baba Dairy did not have the capacity to meet the demand of the temple board Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
SIT formed in November last year
The CBI, on the orders of the Supreme Court, formed a five-member SIT in November last year to investigate the allegations of use of animal fat in making Tirupati Laddus. He said that the team includes two officers of the central agency, two officers of Andhra Pradesh Police and one officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The matter went to the Supreme Court.
After hearing the petitions of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy and YSRCP (Yuvajana Sramika Raithu Congress Party) Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy and others, the apex court had said in its order on October 4 last year that the allegation of use of animal fat in making laddus will be investigated by the SIT and it will be monitored by the CBI Director.
CM N Chandrababu Naidu had made the allegation
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had alleged in September that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the state. Naidu's statement had created a big political controversy.
