CBI Exposes ₹250 Crore Ghee Adulteration Scam

In a shocking revelation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a ₹250 crore fake ghee scam connected to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the world-famous Tirupati Temple. Investigators found that adulterated ghee was supplied for preparing the temple’s sacred laddus — consumed by millions of devotees.

Between 2019 and 2024, a fake dairy based in Uttarakhand allegedly supplied 6.8 million kilograms of adulterated ghee without sourcing or producing any milk or butter. The scam has raised serious concerns about TTD’s procurement system and internal monitoring, which failed to detect the malpractice for years.

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Fake Dairy Behind the Operation

The CBI identified Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, located in Bhagwanpur, Haridwar, as the central entity in the racket. Its promoters, Pammil Jain and Vipin Jain, are accused of forging records to show fake milk and butter purchases while operating a counterfeit ghee manufacturing unit.

Investigators also found that industrial chemicals such as monodiglycerides and acetic acid esters were mixed with animal fat and cheap oils to mimic pure ghee. The chemicals were allegedly supplied by trader Ajay Kumar Sugandh, who admitted to assisting the adulteration process during interrogation.

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Blacklisted Dairy Used Front Firms to Continue Supply

Despite being blacklisted by TTD in 2022, Bhole Baba Dairy continued to supply adulterated ghee through front companies, including Vaishnavi Dairy (Tirupati), Mal Ganga Dairy (Uttar Pradesh), and AR Dairy Foods (Tamil Nadu).

According to the CBI, even after contamination was confirmed in several ghee consignments, the same batches were repackaged and resold under different brand names. FSSAI and SIT reports revealed that animal fat–adulterated ghee repeatedly entered temple kitchens through these channels.

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Public Outrage and Investigation Ahead

The revelations have triggered nationwide outrage among devotees, as the Tirupati laddu is considered a divine offering symbolizing purity. Devotees and religious groups are demanding accountability from TTD officials and stricter checks on food safety.

The CBI is set to question senior officials from the TTD and the Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Department to determine whether collusion or negligence enabled the scam to persist for nearly five years.