Four high-ranking officials from three dairy companies have been taken into custody in connection with the adulteration of ghee used in Tirupati laddoos. The arrests were made following an in-depth investigation conducted by a special team appointed by the Supreme Court.
Who Was Arrested?
The individuals taken into custody include:
- Bipin Jain and Pomil Jain – Former Directors of Bhole Baba Dairy (Roorkee, Uttarakhand)
- Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda – CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy (Poonambakkam, Tamil Nadu)
- Raju Rajasekharan – Managing Director of AR Dairy (Dundigal, Telangana)
The investigation uncovered serious lapses in the ghee supply process, revealing that the laddoos, considered sacred by devotees, were being prepared using substandard and adulterated ghee.
Fraud in Ghee Procurement
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe revealed multiple irregularities in the procurement process. It was discovered that Vaishnavi Dairy had falsified documents that secured ghee supply contracts under the name of AR Dairy. Key findings include:
- Vaishnavi Dairy falsely claimed to have procured ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy in Roorkee.
- Bhole Baba Dairy lacked the production capacity to meet the large-scale demand.
- Forged documents and counterfeit seals were used to pass off adulterated ghee as high-quality.
As a result, substandard ghee was supplied to make Tirupati laddoos, sparking nationwide outrage.
Investigation and Legal Action
Following widespread concerns, the Supreme Court ordered a detailed investigation, which revealed systemic fraud at multiple levels. The probe confirmed document tampering, supply chain manipulation, and deliberate deception of temple authorities.
The arrested officials are facing charges including fraud, food adulteration, and criminal conspiracy, with authorities indicating that more arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
Public Reaction and Temple’s Response
The revelation of adulteration in Tirupati laddoos caused immense distress among devotees and religious organizations. In response, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, has assured devotees that stringent quality checks will be enforced to prevent such incidents in the future.
To ensure the integrity of the prasad, new measures have been introduced, including:
- Enhanced quality control for ghee procurement
- Tighter scrutiny of contracts awarded to dairy suppliers
- Implementation of rigorous testing procedures for all ingredients
What Lies Ahead?
The arrested officials will now face legal proceedings, while investigators continue to examine other potential violations within the supply chain. The CBI is expected to file a comprehensive charge sheet soon.
Meanwhile, temple authorities have urged devotees to remain patient, emphasizing that strict measures are being taken to uphold the sanctity of the laddoo distribution process.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of food safety regulations and ethical business practices, especially in matters linked to religious and public trust.
