Post by : Bianca
Haleem
A shocking discovery by the CBI's special investigation team has revealed significant ghee fraud tied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). From 2019 to 2024, Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, located in Uttarakhand, unlawfully supplied approximately 68 lakh kilograms of ghee, approximating a value of Rs 250 crore, without procuring any legitimate milk or butter.
The inquiry revealed that the dairy, led by promoters Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, fabricated procurement and payment documents, suggesting a fictitious scale of ghee production. This fraudulent practice was brought to light during a probe into alleged adulteration involving ghee used for the famous Tirupati Laddu prasadams.
The probe intensified following the arrest of supplier Ajay Kumar Sugandh, accused of supplying additives like monodiglycerides and acetic acid ester to Bhole Baba Dairy. Even after being blacklisted by the TTD in 2022, the promoters managed to circumvent restrictions by utilizing various front operations, which funneled ghee through several dairies, including Vyshnavi Dairy in Tirupati, Mal Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, and AR Dairy Foods from Tamil Nadu.
In a particularly alarming development, four containers of ghee mixed with animal fat—originally rejected by the TTD in July 2024—were found to have re-entered the supply chain. Instead of returning to AR Dairy’s facility in Dindigul, these tanks were rerouted to a nearby stone-crushing facility. Vyshnavi Dairy is reported to have relabeled and refined the ghee before resupplying it to the TTD.
The CBI findings directly associate these adulterated ghee supplies with the creation of Tirupati Laddu prasadams, raising critical concerns regarding quality management in one of India’s most cherished religious offerings.
This incident underscores the pressing need for enhanced oversight in supply chain operations to maintain the sanctity of temple offerings and bolster public confidence.
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