‘Chemical sludge’: CBI files final chargesheet in Tirupati ghee adulteration case, 36 named as accused

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly filed its final chargesheet in the Tirupati ghee adulteration case, naming 36 individuals as accused, including nine officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and five dairy experts. The chargesheet reportedly was submitted on Friday before the ACB court in Nellore.

According to the investigation, nearly 68 lakh kg of adulterated ghee, valued at approximately ₹250 crore, was reportedly supplied to the Tirumala temple between 2021 and 2024.

The chargesheet reportedly stated that the primary adulterant used was a ‘chemical sludge’ engineered to closely resemble pure cow ghee. Laboratory tests also detected animal fats such as lard (pig fat) and tallow (beef fat) in tankers that had initially been rejected but were later recycled and reintroduced into the temple’s supply chain.

The CBI reportedly alleged that Bhole Baba Dairy, based in Uttarakhand and the main supplier of ghee to the temple, did not procure any milk or butter during the period under scrutiny. Instead, the dairy is accused of manufacturing a synthetic product using palm oil, kernel oil and chemical additives. 

The investigation further claimed that Delhi-based trader Ajay Kumar Sugandh supplied chemicals, including acetic acid esters and artificial ghee flavours, to replicate the taste, aroma and laboratory characteristics of genuine ghee, as per the reports.

The chargesheet also named senior TTD officials and external dairy experts for their alleged role in facilitating the scam. Among those accused is former TTD General Manager (Procurement) RSSVR Subrahmanyam. The CBI alleged that these officials accepted bribes and gifts in return for issuing favourable quality reports and suppressing evidence of vegetable fat content in the adulterated ghee.

The investigation drew on findings from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), whose laboratory analysis recorded S-values as low as 19.72, far below the standard range of 98 to 104, indicating severe adulteration.

The case gained national attention in September 2024 after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat had been used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government, sparking a major political controversy across the country.