CBI SIT Cracks Down on Tirupati Laddu Adulteration, Four Arrested

New Delhi :  In a significant development in the ongoing Tirupati Laddu adulteration case, the special investigation team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged adulteration of laddus offered as prasadam to devotees at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple. This case has sparked outrage and raised concerns over the integrity of offerings at one of India’s most revered temples.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, Apoorva Chawda from Vaishnavi Dairy, and Raju Rajasekharan from AR Dairy. These arrests were made after the SIT’s extensive investigation into the ghee supply chain, which revealed serious violations at every step.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, Vaishnavi Dairy had secured tenders under the name of AR Dairy to supply ghee to the temple, a move that was allegedly manipulated with the intent of profiting from fraudulent practices. The SIT discovered that the dairy officials had not only manipulated the tender process but had also created fake records to cover up their involvement in the illegal supply chain.

The investigation has further exposed the adulteration of ghee supplied for the preparation of laddus, which are sacred offerings to devotees at the temple. The adulteration raised concerns about the purity and quality of the prasadam, which holds immense religious significance for millions of devotees who visit the temple annually.

The SIT’s investigation has thus far uncovered a well-organized network involved in the adulteration and manipulation of official records to evade scrutiny. The authorities have also suggested that there could be more individuals involved in the scam, and further arrests could be made as the investigation continues.

These arrests come after an intense investigation launched earlier in the year, with several leads pointing towards irregularities in the procurement and supply chain of the temple’s sacred offerings. The temple authorities have been cooperating with the SIT, and measures are being taken to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.