Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board Chairman BR Naidu on Friday said that the Special Investigation Team led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which probed the allegations of adulterated ghee in making the famous Tirupati Laddu conveniently ignored the role of real players behind it. ₹250 crore scam.
TTD chief says ‘real criminals’ ignored in SIT chargesheet on Ghee rowSpeaking to reporters in Tirumala, Naidu said the SIT, which submitted its final chargesheet in the court last week, has largely failed to establish the truth behind the controversy surrounding the laddu preparation process.
“Many questions remain unanswered regarding the ghee adulteration case. The TTD board will request the CBI-led SIT to investigate further, unearth the role of the racketeers behind the entire scam and file another supplementary chargesheet to bring the real culprits behind bars,” the TTD chairman said.
Naidu said the board would request the SIT to use micro-DNA tests as part of the probe to scientifically determine the nature of the substance used in making Tirupati laddus during the previous regime.
He noted that preliminary tests conducted by the National Dairy Development Board’s Center for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (NDDB CALF) at Anand in Gujarat indicated the presence of animal fat in the ghee used to make laddus.
“Based on the report, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and various Hindu groups demanded a thorough probe. Now, YSR Congress Party leaders are claiming that the CBI-led SIT report has denied the presence of animal fat and are celebrating as if the agency has given a clean chit. Ghee,” Naidu said.
The TTD chairman questioned how nearly 6 million kilograms of ghee could be procured without adequate supply of milk or butter. He alleged that adulterated ghee mixed with certain chemicals was used to make about 200 million laddus, which were then distributed to devotees.
Calling it a “grave sin”, he said the sanctity of the holy offering was compromised. He also alleged that lethal chemicals were used while making the laddus, putting the health and lives of devotees at risk.
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Tender rules have been changed to favor bogus firms
In the chargesheet, the SIT said in April 2019, the TTD constituted a committee of experts and officials, which recommended strict conditions for calling tenders for procurement of cow ghee used for making laddus. Conditions include 12 tonnes of cow’s milk fat per day, companies supplying cow ghee must have an annual turnover ₹250 crore and mandatory collection of four lakh liters per day.
“These conditions were changed in December 2019, after a change of regime and procurement conditions were relaxed. The condition of supply of four lakh liters per day was removed, the dairy operation was reduced from three years to one year; the cow’s milk fat was reduced from 12 tons to eight tons per day and the annual turnover rule was reduced. ₹250 crore from ₹150 crore,” the SIT report said, adding that the relaxation allowed selected companies to participate in the tender.
The TTD chairman said, “The SIT should investigate who was behind the change in tender conditions and why they allowed such large-scale financial transactions.”
He alleged that without the support of the then TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the ghee supply contracts could not have been awarded to dubious companies.
The SIT also highlighted the role of Kaduru Chinna Appanna, who worked as Subba Reddy’s personal assistant. At the time of Apanna’s arrest, the SIT revealed that she was earning approx ₹65 lakhs in salary during 2019-24, but accrual of approx ₹4.69 crore entered his bank account and substantial properties were purchased in multiple districts.
The TTD chairman sought a thorough investigation into the corrupt practices of one of the accused. “Is it possible for a private individual to make crores of rupees through the supply of ghee without political support?” he asked.
While the lab reports clearly stated that there was no animal fat in the Tirupati Laddu, the YSRCP claimed that Chandrababu’s comments on the matter, which sparked global outrage among devotees, should be taken seriously and he should be hauled up for his irresponsible remarks.
Speaking to the media on Friday, the party’s state coordinator Sajla Ramakrishna Reddy said that Chandrababu, who holds a high position, made an irresponsible comment that there was adulteration in Tirupati laddus. Tried to politicize it, which created a big storm.
Meanwhile, the YSRCP demanded an unconditional apology from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making false statements about adulteration of laddus with animal fat, in view of the SIT chargesheet which cited lab reports that no animal fat was found in the laddus.
YSRCP state co-ordinator Pujala Ramakrishna Reddy said the SIT report nowhere mentioned that the former TTD chairman or board members were involved in the irregularities. “It keeps our slate clean, and allegations are subject to legal scrutiny,” he said.
