6 adulterants used in Tirupati laddoo: ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed that six different adulterants were found in the ghee used to make laddoos at the Tirupati temple. These adulterants included refined palm oil, palmolein, palm kernel oil, and several chemicals. The ghee, which was labeled as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee, was allegedly manufactured using these substances before being supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

ED officials arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, the promoter of Sukriti Foods, on September 17 in Hyderabad as part of an investigation into money laundering linked to the ghee adulteration scheme. Mangla was subsequently produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Visakhapatnam, where he was placed in judicial custody.

The list of six adulterants has sparked controversy in Andhra Pradesh. The opposition YSRCP has called for an unconditional apology from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, accusing them of undermining the religious beliefs of devotees. Naidu had previously claimed that animal fat, including beef tallow and fish oil, had been used to adulterate the ghee.

This allegation has been met with skepticism, with reports suggesting that rejected ghee stocks were allegedly repackaged and resold after the TDP-led coalition government took office in August 2024. This raises serious questions about the quality control and monitoring systems in place during that time.