TIRUPATI LADDU CONTROVERSY

Stepping up its attack on the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) over the Tirupati laddu controversy, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday said laboratory tests on ghee samples revealed the possible presence of animal fats, accusing the previous regime of lacking faith in Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy.

Addressing a press conference, Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav said ghee samples sent to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) indicated the possibility of animal fats. He said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had cited the NDDB report while speaking at an internal meeting, rejecting allegations that the issue was sensationalised.

The controversy erupted after Naidu alleged that adulterated ghee was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP government, triggering widespread outrage. Keshav alleged that the former government treated ghee procurement for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) as a purely commercial activity, without spiritual responsibility.

He said samples sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, in 2022 had confirmed adulteration, detecting chemicals, beta-sitosterol, animal fat and residues. However, the YSRCP government allegedly suppressed the report. “When such a serious issue comes to light, should it be revealed to the public or buried, as was done earlier?” he asked.

Keshav alleged that after coming to power in 2019, the YSRCP diluted strict procurement norms introduced by the TDP government in 2014 to prevent adulteration. Earlier, suppliers were required to have at least three years’ experience, ₹250 crore turnover, quality infrastructure and procurement of four lakh litres of milk annually. These were reduced to one year’s experience and ₹150 crore turnover, paving the way for irregularities.

According to the minister, evidence before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) showed adulteration began only after 2019. The SIT has stated that the scam amounted to ₹240 crore. Keshav further alleged that Chinna Appanna, personal assistant to then TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy, received ₹4 crore from dairy firms and demanded a cut of ₹25 per litre from a supplier.

Rejecting YSRCP’s claim of a “clean chit,” Keshav cited the SIT, NDDB and CFTRI reports, including Page 35 of the supplementary chargesheet, which confirmed adulteration with vegetable and animal fats, including tallow and fish oil. He urged the opposition to stop dragging Lord Venkateswara into politics.

Recently, the SIT filed its final chargesheet in the Nellore ACB court, naming 36 accused, including TTD officials and dairy experts, alleging that chemically processed palmolein oil was supplied as ghee. In September 2024, Naidu reiterated that animal fat was used in laddu preparation during the previous regime.