Tirupati laddu adulteration case grabs headlines again as Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) firmly denies giving anyone a clean chit. On Friday, TTD Board Chairman BR Naidu addressed the media in Tirupati, slamming rumors amid rising devotee outrage.
SIT Charge Sheet Exposes TTD Ghee Contamination
Naidu highlighted the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) charge sheet, which proves adulterated ghee was used in Srivari laddus. "Certain groups are misleading devotees with false clean chit claims," he said. This comes at a sensitive time, with millions visiting Tirumala during peak festival seasons, making temple prasadam purity a hot cultural and religious issue in 2026.
The CBI laddu report, filed in Nellore Court, detected vegetable oil, beta-carotene, and ester chemicals in ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy (Uttarakhand). Crucially, it ruled out animal fat—contradicting earlier NDDB tests. YSRCP leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy called it "political propaganda exposed."
Tender Irregularities Rock Temple Trust
Naidu revealed shocking tender flaws: Ghee contracts went to under-capacity firms, leading to 60 lakh kg of adulterated supply worth â¹250 crore. Around 200 million laddus were affected, tainting Tirumala's sanctity.
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Bhole Baba Dairy was blacklisted post-2022 complaints but supplied via proxies like Vaishnavi Dairy (Tirupati), Mal Ganga Dairy (UP), and AR Dairy Foods (Tamil Nadu).
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Accusations point to commissions over quality during ex-Chairman Subba Reddy's term.
Devotees worry this erodes faith in the 300-year-old tradition, serving 3.5 lakh people daily via the sacred Pottu kitchen.
Political Firestorm and Historical Legacy
TDP leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan had alleged animal fat and fish oil in laddus, citing a September 2025 lab report. Reddy countered with a Srinivasa Prasada Ninda Parihara Homam, insisting the CBI laddu report clears YSRCP.
The Tirupati laddu recipe, evolved just six times over centuries—from gram flour and jaggery to nut-enriched versions—follows strict Dittam processes for nutrition and taste.
Why This Matters Now
In today's trend of faith-driven tourism and social media scrutiny, the Tirupati laddu adulteration case demands transparency. TTD vows stricter vendor checks.
Takeaways for Devotees:
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Verify prasadam sources during visits.
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Support calls for independent audits.
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Stay updated on TTD reforms.
This scandal tests Hindu traditions amid political battles—will TTD restore trust?
