ED registers money laundering case in Tirupati laddu 'adulteration' case

Amaravati/New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case to probe an alleged ghee adulteration scam linked to the preparation of 'laddu prasadam' at the famous Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati, officials said.

The federal probe agency booked a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) sometime back to probe the alleged proceeds of crime or illicit funds generated by the accused, they said.

The ED is looking at the FIR, documents and chargesheet filed recently in the case by a CBI-led special investigation team (SIT), the officials said.

The SIT has named 36 people, including nine Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials and five dairy experts, as accused in the matter.

As per the findings of the SIT, the original material which was sold to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple body as ghee was chemically processed palmolein oil and other ingredients.

The ED is looking at alleged money laundering done by the accused and possible generation of illicit funds by the accused through ghee adulteration, the officials said.

They said that the agency suspects involvement of hawala dealings and diversion of funds by the accused in this case.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had claimed in September 2024 that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus (consecrated sweet) during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime in the state, triggering a massive political row.

As per TTD Chairman B R Naidu, who addressed a press conference in January, nearly 60 lakh kg of adulterated ghee, valued at approximately Rs 250 crore, was supplied to the TTD during the previous YSRCP government.