Tirupati Temple laddu scandal: SIT arrests 4, unearths tender irregularities

Tirupati (Uttam Hindu News): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed after allegations of adulteration of Tirupati temple's famous laddus with animal fat has taken major action and arrested four people. These arrests have been made in the case of alleged adulteration in Tirupati temple's laddus, which had led to nationwide outrage last year. The arrested persons have been identified as former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, Apoorva Chavda of Vaishnavi Dairy and Raju Rajasekharan of AR Dairy. According to officials, all these arrested persons are associated with various dairy firms and are accused of being involved in supplying ghee containing animal fat to the temple.

SIT sources said the investigation found irregularities at every stage of the ghee supply chain, leading to the arrests. It is alleged that Vaishnavi Dairy secured the contract to supply ghee to the temple in the name of AR Dairy and also created fake records to manipulate the tender process. The investigation also revealed that Vaishnavi Dairy had falsely claimed that it procured ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy. However, the SIT found that Bhole Baba Dairy did not have enough capacity to meet the demand of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

The matter came to light last year when allegations of the use of animal fat in Tirupati temple laddus were made, which led to widespread anger among the devotees. On the orders of the Supreme Court, a five-member SIT was formed under the leadership of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The team includes two CBI officers, two Andhra Pradesh Police officers and an officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The SIT is investigating the matter thoroughly.