The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday asserted that safeguarding the sanctity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is its foremost responsibility and made it clear that those involved in the adulteration of ghee used for Srivari laddu prasadam will face severe legal consequences.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Secretariat, State Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, Information Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, and Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav detailed the decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting held earlier in the day.

Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav said the Cabinet set aside all other agenda items to conduct an extensive review of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on the adulteration issue. He announced that the government would constitute a short-term administrative committee to examine the matter comprehensively and submit a final report at the earliest.

“Protecting the purity of Tirumala is the primary duty of the government. The SIT report has clearly pointed out serious irregularities in ghee procurement, dilution of tender norms and supply of substandard material. Strict legal and administrative action will be taken against all those responsible,” Keshav stated.

He explained that the SIT investigation, carried out under the supervision of the CBI as per Supreme Court directions, found deliberate relaxation of tender conditions after 2019. “Requirements such as minimum turnover were reduced, and experience criteria were weakened, allowing ineligible firms to supply ghee,” he said. Laboratory tests reportedly detected traces of adulterants including vegetable oils, fish oil and other foreign substances.

Information Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the Cabinet devoted nearly three hours exclusively to discussing the issue. “Crores of Hindu devotees look up to Tirumala as the holiest shrine. The Cabinet unanimously agreed that protecting its sanctity is the government’s dharma. Action will be taken firmly and without compromise,” he asserted.

Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar criticised attempts to politicise the issue. “The government is dealing with this matter transparently and responsibly. With legal advice from the Advocate General, we are ensuring that the guilty are brought to book while maintaining the faith of devotees,” he said.

Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav termed the adulteration episode a grave betrayal of religious sentiments. “Past warnings from CFTRI in 2022 were ignored, and chemically produced ghee without milk was used. Such acts are against nature and tradition. Those who damaged the sanctity of Srivari prasadam will not be spared, no matter how influential they are,” he warned.

The ministers said the SIT report also named certain senior officials for lapses in quality control and tender procedures. The Cabinet resolved to strengthen institutional mechanisms and introduce stricter monitoring systems to prevent any recurrence.