TTD Laddu Ghee Adulteration Scandal: Former GM Arrested in Major Conspiracy
The Special Investigation Team probing the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams laddu ghee adulteration case has uncovered a deep-rooted conspiracy involving the temple body's former general manager for procurement. RSSVR Subrahmanyam was arrested on Thursday for his alleged collusion with promoters of Bhole Baba dairy and other questionable dairy firms.
The Corrupt Partnership Unveiled
In a detailed remand report submitted to the ACB court in Nellore, the SIT exposed how Subrahmanyam systematically misused his official position to support dubious dairy companies. This resulted in the supply of a staggering 68 lakh kg of adulterated ghee to TTD, which was used in preparing the sacred laddu prasadam offered to devotees.
Subrahmanyam held the crucial position of general manager (procurement) with TTD during two significant periods: from July 6, 2017, to May 17, 2018, and from May 13, 2018, to May 1, 2023. His responsibilities included procuring essential commodities like ghee, cashew nuts, and cardamom for the preparation of the famous laddu prasadam.
Bribes and Favorable Treatment
The investigation revealed a pattern of corruption where Subrahmanyam allegedly accepted numerous gifts and cash payments from dairy promoters. According to the SIT remand report, between 2021 and 2023, he received a mobile phone worth Rs 50,000 and Rs 3.5 lakh in cash from Pomil Jain of Bhole Baba dairy.
Additional bribes included a silver plate valued at Rs 16,700 and a 50-gram silver coin from representatives of the questionable dairies. In return for these favors, Subrahmanyam and other technical committee members submitted false and favorable plant inspection reports for dairies including Bhole Baba, Sri Vyshnavi, and Malganga.
This manipulation allowed these technically unqualified dairies to repeatedly secure ghee supply contracts through TTD tenders, completely bypassing established quality standards.
Systematic Manipulation of Tender Process
The SIT report further detailed how Subrahmanyam shared contact information of ghee suppliers with accused number 24, Kaduru Chinna Appanna, in May 2022. This collaboration attempted to influence the ghee tender procurement process when TTD called for tenders for 24.5 lakh kg of cow ghee on May 10, 2022.
Although Bhole Baba dairy faced disqualification following a plant inspection on June 6, 2022, reportedly due to pressure from Appanna, Subrahmanyam remarkably recommended issuing additional supply orders to the same dairy. He authorized procurement of 9,450 kg of ghee at Rs 329.32 per kg and 1.07 lakh kg at Rs 329 per kg to TTD.
Suppression of Critical Test Results
A crucial revelation in the SIT investigation concerns the deliberate suppression of adulteration test results. On May 20, 2022, when former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy directed officials to send ghee samples from all dairies for adulteration tests, Subrahmanyam issued memos to the warehouse department to draw samples from both tins and tankers.
Samples from Premier Agri Foods, Bhole Baba dairy, and Sri Vyshnavi dairy were sent to CFTRI-Mysore for testing in June 2022. The CFTRI reports dated August 3, 2022 confirmed that the "ghee was adulterated with vegetable oils." However, Subrahmanyam deliberately suppressed these damning test reports and continued to issue additional supply orders to the three implicated dairies.
Financial and Spiritual Consequences
The SIT emphasized in its remand report that Subrahmanyam's actions caused significant wrongful financial loss to TTD while simultaneously compromising the sanctity of the sacred laddu prasadam. This dual impact—both economic and spiritual—has shaken devotees' trust in the temple administration.
The investigation continues to uncover the full extent of this conspiracy that allowed adulterated ghee to be used in preparing prasadam for millions of devotees visiting the renowned Tirumala temple.
