What Was Really Mixed in Tirupati Laddu Ghee ? ED Investigation Raises Serious Questions

Tirupati : A major development has emerged in the controversial Tirupati Laddu ghee case, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging that the ghee supplied for the preparation of the famous Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) laddu prasadam was not pure cow ghee but was allegedly prepared using a combination of refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and other chemical substances.

According to the ED investigation, Sukriti Foods promoter Kailash Chand Mangla was arrested by the agency’s Hyderabad office on September 17 in connection with the case and was subsequently produced before a PMLA court in Visakhapatnam, which reportedly sent him to judicial custody.

The investigation has reportedly focused on allegations that the supplied ghee was prepared by blending vegetable oils and other substances, with the ED naming ingredients such as MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvaset Soft 400 and acetic acid esters in its findings.

The agency has further alleged that the product was subsequently presented and supplied to TTD as ‘Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee’, raising serious questions about the authenticity and quality of the material supplied for making the highly revered laddu prasadam. The case has also taken a financial angle, with the ED investigating alleged financial irregularities and possible money-laundering activities linked to the supply of the ghee.

The arrest of the Sukriti Foods promoter marks another significant development in the investigation as authorities examine how the alleged adulterated ghee was manufactured, how it entered the supply chain, who was involved in its procurement and supply, and how it was allegedly represented as pure cow ghee.

The Tirupati Laddu holds immense religious significance for millions of devotees, making the allegations particularly sensitive and raising concerns over food quality, supply-chain transparency and the sanctity of the prasadam. However, the allegations made during the investigation are still part of an ongoing legal process, and the final truth will depend on the evidence presented before the court and the outcome of the investigation.