Post by : Badri Ariffin

The CBI’s special investigation team has unveiled a extensive ghee fraud tied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Over the period from 2019 to 2024, Bhole Baba Organic Dairy from Uttarakhand falsely supplied approximately 68 lakh kilograms of ghee, totaling Rs 250 crore, without actually acquiring any milk or butter.

Authorities discovered that the dairy’s management, led by Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, fabricated procurement and payment documents to create an illusion of substantial ghee production. The scam emerged during inquiries into the alleged adulteration of ghee intended for the revered Tirupati Laddu prasadams.

The investigation gained momentum following the arrest of supplier Ajay Kumar Sugandh, who reportedly furnished chemicals such as monodiglycerides and acetic acid ester to Bhole Baba Dairy. Even after being blacklisted by TTD in 2022, the promoters persisted in their activities, using different aliases and routing ghee through other dairies, including Vyshnavi Dairy in Tirupati, Mal Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, and AR Dairy Foods from Tamil Nadu.

In a particularly disturbing incident, four containers of ghee tainted with animal fat, originally rejected by TTD in July 2024, were discovered to have re-entered the supply chain. These containers were redirected to a local stone-crushing facility instead of being returned to AR Dairy’s Dindigul plant. Vyshnavi Dairy allegedly repackaged and refined this ghee before sending it back to TTD.

The CBI’s findings link these adulterated ghee supplies to the production of Tirupati Laddu prasadams, prompting serious concerns regarding quality control for one of the most esteemed religious gifts in India.

This case underscores the critical need for enhanced oversight within the supply chain to safeguard the quality of temple offerings and maintain public confidence.

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