Four individuals were arrested in connection with the laddu prasadam adulteration scam, which had widespread implications for the supply of ghee used in preparing the famous Tirumala laddus. The arrested individuals include Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy in Roorkee, Apoorva Vinay Kant Chawda, CEO of Vaishnavi Dairy, and Raju Rajasekharan, MD of AR Dairy.
The arrest was made following an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The investigation uncovered multiple violations regarding the supply of ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which is responsible for preparing the laddus offered as prasadam at the Tirumala temple.
The scam came to light after the detection of adulterated ingredients in the laddu prasadam. An initial investigation by the authorities revealed that fraudulent documents and fake seals were used to win tenders for supplying ghee to the temple kitchen. The dairy companies, including Bhole Baba Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy, had manipulated their records to claim that they were supplying high-quality ghee, despite the former being unable to meet the required demand.
The investigation into the matter, which was escalated following the discovery of the adulterated ingredients, is being conducted by a special investigation team set up by the Supreme Court. It was found that the discrepancies in the ghee supply led to the inclusion of adulterated materials in the laddu prasadam, a matter that garnered national attention. The adulteration was detected following a lab report on July 17, 2024, which identified the presence of fraudulent substances in samples collected from tankers delivered on July 8, 2024.
The arrested individuals have been charged under multiple provisions of the law, including those related to food safety and fraudulent documentation. The investigation continues, with authorities anticipating additional arrests as they probe deeper into the network of individuals involved in the scam. The authorities have also focused on the TTD’s daily ghee requirements, which total 15,000 kg for laddu preparation, and are investigating possible discrepancies in the supply contracts.
As part of the ongoing inquiry, it is suspected that more individuals, including middlemen and others involved in facilitating fake supplies and documents, will be apprehended.