Tirupati Temple Laddu Scam: CBI Busts ₹250 Crore Fake Dairy Supplying Adulterated Ghee for Sacred Prasadam
The CBI has exposed a massive ₹250 crore scam involving adulterated ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for making its world-famous laddus. A fake dairy from Uttarakhand was found to have supplied millions of kilograms of ghee without producing or purchasing a single drop of milk.
CBI uncovers massive ₹250 crore ghee adulteration scam linked to Tirupati Temple’s sacred laddus; fake dairy in Uttarakhand supplied millions of kilograms without producing real ghee.
Massive Ghee Scam Uncovered by CBI
In a shocking revelation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unearthed a large-scale racket involving the supply of adulterated ghee worth ₹250 crore to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) — the trust managing one of India’s most revered temples.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) discovered that between 2019 and 2024, a so-called dairy in Uttarakhand — which had never bought milk or butter — supplied 6.8 million kilograms of fake ghee to the temple trust. This adulterated ghee was allegedly used in preparing Tirupati laddus, the sacred prasadam consumed by millions of devotees each year.
The revelations have raised serious concerns about TTD’s procurement process and internal audit systems, which failed to detect the fraud despite multiple warnings.
Fake Dairy and Chemical Adulteration Exposed
The investigation has identified Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, located in Bhagwanpur, Haridwar district, as the main entity behind the fraudulent operation. The dairy’s promoters, Pammil Jain and Vipin Jain, allegedly ran a fake ghee manufacturing unit and forged purchase records to show fictitious milk and butter transactions.
During interrogation, accused Ajay Kumar Sugandh admitted to supplying industrial chemicals such as monodiglycerides and acetic acid esters — commonly used in food adulteration — to improve ghee’s texture and shelf life.
According to CBI officials, these additives were blended with animal fat and low-grade oils, creating a concoction that was then passed off as pure ghee.
Blacklisted Dairy Continued Supplies Using Fake Fronts
Even after Bhole Baba Dairy was blacklisted by TTD in 2022 following early complaints, the CBI found that the company continued to supply adulterated ghee using front companies and forged tenders.
The investigation has linked the fraudulent supplies to entities including:
- Vaishnavi Dairy (Tirupati)
- Mal Ganga Dairy (Uttar Pradesh)
- AR Dairy Foods (Tamil Nadu)
The CBI remand report revealed that animal fat–adulterated ghee continued to enter the temple kitchens under these alternate brand names. In July 2024, four tankers of ghee from AR Dairy were rejected by TTD after tests confirmed contamination — yet the same ghee was rerouted to Vaishnavi Dairy, according to findings by the FSSAI and the SIT.
Devotee Outrage and Institutional Accountability
The scandal has sparked nationwide outrage among devotees, as Tirupati laddus are not only sacred but also symbolize purity and divine offering. Many have demanded stronger quality control measures and accountability from temple authorities.
The CBI is now expected to question senior officials of both the TTD and the Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Department as part of the next phase of its investigation.
Officials say the inquiry aims to uncover whether internal collusion or negligence within the temple administration allowed the scam to thrive for nearly five years.
