The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board Chairman B R Naidu seems to be not happy with the final charge sheet filed by the CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus.
In an interaction with reporters at Tirumala, Naidu expressed dissatisfaction over the probe, saying the investigators ignored the “real players” behind what he termed a Rs 250 crore scam.
The TTD chairman said the SIT’s findings failed to comprehensively establish the truth behind the controversy, leaving several unanswered questions about procurement irregularities and the alleged use of adulterated substances during the previous regime.
Naidu said that despite the SIT submitting its final charge sheet to the court last week, the investigation had not unearthed the complete network involved in the scam.
“A lot of questions still remain unanswered with regard to the ghee adulteration case. The TTD board shall request the SIT to conduct further inquiry, unearth the role of racketeers behind the whole scam and file another supplementary charge sheet,” he said.
The chairman maintained that only a deeper probe would ensure that the “real culprits” are brought to justice.
Naidu announced that the TTD board would request the SIT to include micro-DNA testing to scientifically determine the nature of substances used in laddu preparation during the previous administration.
He pointed out that initial laboratory tests by the National Dairy Development Board’s Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (NDDB CALF) in Anand, Gujarat, had indicated the presence of animal fat in the ghee used for laddus.
Naidu criticised the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for claiming that the SIT report had ruled out the presence of animal fat and for “celebrating” the charge sheet as a clean chit to the previous government.
“Nowhere in the report did the SIT say that there was no animal fat in the ghee,” he asserted.
Questioning the procurement process, the TTD chairman asked how nearly 60 lakh kilograms of ghee could have been sourced without adequate supplies of milk or butter.
He alleged that adulterated ghee mixed with chemicals was used to manufacture around 20 crore laddus, which were distributed to devotees.
Naidu demanded the SIT investigate who was responsible for the changes in the tendering norms and why relaxations were permitted.
“The SIT should investigate who the people behind this change of tender conditions were,” he said.
Naidu alleged that ghee contracts could not have been awarded to dubious firms without support from then TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The SIT also reportedly highlighted the suspicious financial dealings of Kaduru Chinna Appanna, personal assistant to Subba Reddy, who allegedly received deposits worth Rs 4.69 crore despite earning only Rs 65 lakh in salary between 2019 and 2024.
Naidu questioned whether such manipulation could occur without higher-level backing.
“Is it possible for a private individual to handle crores of rupees in dealings through ghee supply without political backing?” he asked.