The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed the final chargesheet in the Tirupati ghee adulteration case, naming 36 individuals, including nine officials from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and several dairy suppliers and experts, before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
The extensive probe found that approximately 68 lakh kg of synthetic ghee, valued at around ₹250 crore, was supplied to the temple trust between 2021 and 2024, masquerading as pure cow ghee but largely made from vegetable oils and chemical additives.
The chargesheet dismisses earlier public claims that animal fat was used in the famed Tirupati laddus, stating that scientific analysis found no evidence of such contamination. The case has entered the trial phase, and political tensions continue to escalate between major state parties over the controversy’s implications.
Allegations, Scientific Findings And Court Proceedings
The final chargesheet, spanning hundreds of pages and presented to the Nellore ACB court, lays out a complex web of alleged fraud, collusion and procedural lapses connected with the procurement of ghee used in preparing the temple’s sacred Srivari laddus and prasad.
According to the CBI’s findings, the main supplier, Bhole Baba Organic Dairy from Uttarakhand, failed to procure any milk, butter or dairy fat during the period under investigation. Instead, it produced a synthetic concoction using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and chemical additives to mimic the physical, aromatic and laboratory characteristics of genuine ghee.
To disguise the absence of dairy fat, the CBI-supervised SIT said the suppliers used a combination of colouring agents, flavouring essences and emulsifiers that allowed the product to pass routine quality tests. Rejected tanker samples, reportedly containing traces of animal fat such as lard and tallow, were allegedly relabelled and reintroduced into the supply chain, according to early investigative reports.
However, CBI’s final charge sheet supported by testing from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI) as well as the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) confirmed that no animal fat was present in the valid ghee consignments supplied to the TTD. The reports also highlighted multiple lapses in tender document verification, plant inspections and quality control protocols conducted by certain TTD officials.
With the chargesheet now filed, the case has officially entered the trial stage. The prosecution’s documentation includes witness statements, documentary evidence and material objects tied to the alleged crime, which will be examined in detail by the court to determine the legal guilt or innocence of the accused.
Political Fallout, Reactions And Broader Context
The ghee adulteration controversy first ignited in September 2024 when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat had been used in Tirupati laddu prasadam during the previous state government’s tenure, triggering widespread public outrage and political conflict.
This allegation prompted the Supreme Court to demand a new, independent SIT report after an earlier panel’s constitution was challenged. The CBI was eventually tasked with leading the investigation.
In light of the chargesheet’s confirmation that no animal fat was detected in the ghee supplied, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has strongly criticised the chief minister and his deputy, Pawan Kalyan, accusing them of playing with religious sentiments and misleading the public for political gain.
YSRCP leaders have demanded a public apology, arguing that the controversy needlessly inflamed communal and emotional sensitivities without scientific basis. Meanwhile, spokespeople for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have sought to distance themselves from the controversy over animal-fat allegations, emphasising the focus should remain on alleged procurement fraud and administrative failures.
The political stakes are high, as the case continues to be referenced in electoral discourse, public assemblies and media commentary. Both major state parties have used the case to question the integrity, accountability and governance practices of their rivals, making the legal process itself a focal point of political messaging in Andhra Pradesh.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Tirupati ghee adulteration saga strikes at multiple, deeply rooted concerns public faith in sacred institutions, food safety, administrative oversight and the responsible conduct of political discourse. On the one hand, the chargesheet’s findings that no animal fat was used in the ghee should reassure devotees troubled by earlier allegations, and underscore the importance of verified scientific analysis over rumours and unverified claims.
On the other hand, the admission that a multi-crore racket involving synthetic ghee went undetected for years brings into sharp relief the need for transparent governance, rigorous quality standards and robust accountability mechanisms in public procurement especially where millions of devotees’ trust is involved.
