INDIA, November 22, 2025 (The Hindu): Even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration case, it has been estimated that a whopping 201 million laddus out of the 487.6 million during the period 2019-2024 were made of spurious ghee, according to Mr. B.R. Naidu, chairman, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board. The sensational issue has shaken the TTD and hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, over allegations of the use of impure/spurious ghee for the Prasadam considered sacred by the devotees. Simple mathematical calculations based on the laddu production and sale figures from the TTD’s kitchen and distribution counters and compilation of the daily pilgrim footfall figures, besides the procurement details arrived at by the SIT from the ghee supplying companies have brought mind-boggling facts to the fore.
The SIT has concluded that Bhole Baba dairy of Uttarakhand, its shell dairies and subsidiaries have collectively supplied nearly 15 million pounds of spurious ghee made of a mixture of palm oil, palm kernel and other toxic substances, estimated to be worth nearly nearly $US28 million, to the TTD for preparation of Srivari Laddu during the said period. The Tirumala shrine was visited by 110 million devotees during June 2019-June 2024, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a serious bearing on the arrival figures. It is now clear that the 110 million visitors had received/purchased approximately 487.6 million laddus.
More at source.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/more-than-20-crore-tirupati-laddus-out-of-4876-crore-made-during-2019-24-used-spurious-ghee-ttd-chairman/article70306887.ece/amp/
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