Bigger network in Tirumala ghee adulteration scam?

The Supreme Court-directed Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, has intensified its probe into the adulterated ghee scandal involving the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

On Saturday, the SIT filed a memo before the Nellore ACB Court, adding 11 more individuals to the list of accused.

With this, the total number of accused in the case has risen to 35, of whom 10 have already been arrested.

According to sources, seven of the newly added accused are TTD employees.

The SIT has booked officials who worked in TTD’s procurement wing between 2019 and 2024, including former General Managers, senior assistants, and junior assistants.

Former GMs Jagadishwar Reddy and Muralikrishna, along with former SV Goshala Director Harinath Reddy, are among those added in the latest list.

Investigators allege that irregularities took place in procurement processes during this five-year period, resulting in the supply of adulterated ghee for TTD use.

The SIT continues to examine procurement contracts, supply chains, and internal approvals as part of its ongoing investigation.

A couple of days ago, the SIT arrested TTD Executive Engineer RSSVR Subramanyam, who previously served as General Manager (Procurement), in connection with the adulterated ghee scandal. He was remanded to 15 days of judicial custody.

Subramanyam is the first serving TTD official to be arrested in the case. He held the GM (Procurement) position from 2019 to 2024, with an earlier tenure from 2017 to 2018.

The SIT has accused him of being part of an “unholy nexus” with private dairy suppliers.

He allegedly suppressed lab reports in 2022 that confirmed the ghee supplied by certain dairies was adulterated with vegetable oils, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and even animal fats like lard and beef tallow.

He reportedly issued quality certificates and allowed blacklisted dairies; such as Bhole Baba Dairy; to continue supplying spurious ghee through proxy companies, allegedly in exchange for bribes.