The entry of Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the Tirumala ghee adulteration case has further heated up the political atmosphere in Andhra Pradesh, as chief minster N Chandrababu Naidu apprises the Centre of the seriousness of the issue.
According to reports, the ED initiated a money laundering investigation in connection with the Tirupati laddu adulteration case, registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and launching a formal probe against the accused.
The development follows the filing of a supplementary chargesheet by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which details an alleged nexus involving private dairy firms, intermediaries and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials.
According to the SIT’s supplementary chargesheet, the case centres on alleged hawala-based cash transactions and illegal gratification paid by private dairy operators to TTD officials to influence ghee procurement tenders and quality clearances.
Forensic analysis of mobile phones, WhatsApp chats and Excel records purportedly revealed documented payments routed through cash couriers and hawala operators to senior officials, including the then general manager (procurement) at TTD, along with smaller sums to other functionaries.
Investigators allege that directors of certain dairy firms and TTD officials conspired to supply adulterated and “noxious” ghee for use in the preparation of the Tirupati laddu prasadam.
The chargesheet claims that ineligible dairies secured tenders by submitting forged documents such as fabricated experience certificates, manipulated Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) returns and falsified laboratory reports, often by quoting unviable low rates.
Public officials are accused of overlooking discrepancies in exchange for bribes and issuing favourable inspection reports.
The SIT chargesheet further claims that suppliers adulterated ghee using monoglycerides, lactic acid and refined oils including palm, palm kernel and palmolein to mimic pure cow ghee.
It alleges that test reports from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru — which reportedly confirmed adulteration through Beta Sitosterol-positive findings — were deliberately suppressed by TTD officials to allow continued supply.
The supplementary chargesheet names multiple individuals accused of receiving illegal gratification, including Kaduru Chinnappanna (A-24), personal assistant to the then TTD chairman, who allegedly received Rs 50 lakh in cash and demanded Rs 25 per kg from a supplier and RSSVR Subrahmanyam (A-29), then general manager (procurement), who is accused of accepting Rs 3.5 lakh in cash, a Samsung Galaxy S20 phone worth Rs 50,000 and a silver coin.
The ED is probing the role of Apurva Chavda (A-5), CEO of Sri Vyshnavi Dairy, who is accused of receiving Rs 19.86 crore via hawala transactions.
The chargesheet also lists smaller alleged payments and gifts to TTD staff and members of inspection panels.
Investigators allege that a significant portion of bribes was paid by Pomil Jain (A-3) and Vipin Jain (A-4) of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy.
Funds were allegedly routed through commission agents and hawala operators in a structured network involving Delhi-based operators and regional intermediaries in Vijayawada, Chennai and Hyderabad.
The ED’s entry into the case signals a widening of the investigation into potential proceeds of crime and laundering of illicit funds, even as criminal proceedings based on the SIT’s findings continue.