Tirumala Laddu Controversy: CBI Arrests 4

The CBI investigation team arrested four individuals in connection with the laddu prasadam adulteration scam. The arrested are Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy (Roorkee, Uttarakhand), Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda, CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy (Poonambakkam), and Raju Rajasekharan, MD of AR Dairy (Dundigal).

The accused were arrested under Crime No. 470/24 and produced in the Tirupati court. Investigations revealed multiple violations under the guise of supplying ghee, including using fake documents and seals to win tenders. Vaishnavi Dairy allegedly manipulated records, claiming to supply ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy despite the latter’s inability to meet the demand. The inquiry found discrepancies in the supply and false documentation.

The investigation, which uncovered the illegalities, involved a special team set up by the Supreme Court, including CBI and Andhra Pradesh government officials, as well as representatives from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

The case came to light after the discovery of adulterated ingredients in the Tirumala laddus during the previous government’s tenure, sparking a nationwide scandal. The issue led to the Supreme Court’s intervention and formation of a special investigation team. The investigation is ongoing with further arrests expected.

The TTD’s daily use of 15,000 kg of ghee for laddu preparation and discrepancies in the supply contracts are being probed. The adulteration was first detected in a lab report on July 17 2024 after testing samples from tankers delivered on July 8 2024.