Fake ghee used to make Tirupati laddu, says ED, arrests Sukriti Foods promoter

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Sukriti Foods promoter Kailash Chand Mangla in the Tirupati Laddu ghee adulteration case. The agency alleges he helped source adulterants and disguise fraudulent supplies to TTD.

In Short

• ED arrests Kailash Chand Mangla in Tirupati Laddu ghee adulteration case
• Adulterated ghee contained palm oils and chemicals, not pure cow ghee
• Fraudulent supplies to TTD valued at Rs 230 crore from 2019 to 2024

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has said that fake ghee comprising palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and various chemicals was used in preparing the Tirupati laddu prasadam, even as it arrested Sukriti Foods promoter Kailash Chand Mangla in a money laundering case linked to the alleged adulteration case.

In a statement, the federal agency said Mangla was taken into custody by its Hyderabad office on September 17 in connection with the TTD ghee adulteration case. He was later produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Visakhapatnam, which sent him to judicial custody, the ED said.

According to the agency, the adulterated ghee allegedly used for Tirupati Laddu prasadam was manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and chemicals including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester. It alleged that these were then supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee to TTD.

The ED claimed that the alleged fraudulent supplies of ghee to TTD between 2019 and 2024 were valued at Rs 230 crore, and that adulterated ghee worth Rs 96 crore was manufactured by Mangla. The agency said Mangla was one of the co-conspirators in the case, facilitated the procurement of adulterants and manufactured adulterated ghee at his factory premises.

"He also coordinated the supply of adulterated ghee through various front entities, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products and A.R. Dairy Foods," the ED said. It further alleged that "Mangla created and maintained false records relating to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil, with the objective of concealing the actual utilisation of adulterants and creating an appearance of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee".

The agency has earlier arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, on similar charges. With Mangla now in judicial custody, the ED has said its probe in the TTD ghee adulteration case has found alleged use of adulterants in supplies made as cow ghee for Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

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With PTI inputs