CBI Unveils Major Ghee Fraud Linked to Tirupati Temple

The CBI’s special investigation team has made a shocking discovery relating to a large-scale ghee fraud associated with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). From 2019 to 2024, Bhole Baba Organic Dairy in Uttarakhand allegedly provided approximately 68 lakh kilograms of ghee valued at Rs 250 crore to the TTD, all while never sourcing any genuine milk or butter.

Authorities uncovered that the dairy, operated by promoters Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, fabricated procurement and payment documents to simulate extensive ghee production. This fraudulent activity was revealed during an investigation into the alleged adulteration of ghee utilized in the esteemed Tirupati Laddu prasadams.

The investigation ramped up after the arrest of supplier Ajay Kumar Sugandh, accused of supplying chemicals like monodiglycerides and acetic acid ester to Bhole Baba Dairy. Despite being blacklisted by the TTD in 2022, the promoters continued to function under various alternate fronts, routing ghee through numerous dairies such as Vyshnavi Dairy in Tirupati, Mal Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, and AR Dairy Foods from Tamil Nadu.

In a troubling incident, four containers of ghee, tainted with animal fat and initially rejected by the TTD in July 2024, were found to have re-entered the supply chain. Instead of going back to AR Dairy’s Dindigul plant, the tanks were redirected to a local stone-crushing unit. Vyshnavi Dairy allegedly relabeled and refined the ghee before shipping it back to the TTD.

The CBI findings directly associate these adulterated supplies with the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadams, raising significant concerns about quality assurance in one of India’s most cherished religious offerings.

This uncovering emphasizes the need for robust supply chain monitoring to safeguard the integrity of temple offerings and maintain public trust.