The CBI’s special investigation team has filed its final chargesheet in the Tirupati ghee adulteration scam, naming 36 accused, including nine Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials and five dairy experts. The chargesheet was submitted to the Nellore ACB court on Friday.
According to the CBI, nearly 68 lakh kilograms of synthetic ghee, valued at approximately ₹250 crore, were supplied to the Tirupati temple between 2021 and 2024. The investigation revealed that the primary adulterant was a “chemical sludge” designed to closely resemble authentic cow ghee.
The chargesheet stated that animal fats such as lard (pig fat) and tallow (beef fat) were detected in rejected tanker samples. However, these rejected consignments were allegedly recycled and reintroduced into the temple’s supply chain.
The CBI found that Bhole Baba Dairy of Uttarakhand, the main ghee supplier, did not procure any milk or butter during the period in question. Instead, it allegedly manufactured a synthetic mixture using palm oil, kernel oil and chemical additives. Delhi-based trader Ajay Kumar Sugandh is accused of supplying chemicals such as acetic acid esters and artificial ghee flavours to mimic the taste, aroma and laboratory parameters of genuine ghee.
Senior TTD officials, including former General Manager (Procurement) RSSVR Subrahmanyam, along with external dairy experts, have been accused of facilitating the scam by accepting bribes and gifts. They allegedly issued favourable quality reports and suppressed evidence of vegetable and animal fat adulteration.
The chargesheet relies on findings from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which detected extremely low S-values—down to 19.72 against the standard range of 98–104—indicating severe adulteration.
The case gained national attention after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged in September 2024 that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government, sparking a major political controversy.
