- By Raju Kumar
- Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Jagran Bureau, New Delhi | The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has tightened its grip on those supplying adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), following the Tirupati laddu adulteration controversy, which stemmed from systemic corruption in the supply chain of the sacred prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
ED Crackdown In 15 Locations
Acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED raided 15 locations in Ahilyanagar, Bikaner, Dehradun, Delhi, Dindigul, Guntur, Mumbai, and Roorkee. The investigation revealed that the illegal proceeds from the supply of adulterated ghee to the TTD were invested in real estate. The investments were made through companies in a manner that concealed their true illegal source. The ED will now identify and seize such properties.
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The enforcement raids also covered the dairy plants of AR Dairy Food in Dindigul, Malganga Milk & Agro Products in Ahilyanagar, and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk in Roorkee. Searches were also conducted at the residences of Pomil Jain, Vipin Jain, Raju Rajshekharan, Rajesh Mansukhlal Chawda, Apurv Vinaykanth Chawda, Machindra Shankar Rao Lanke, Ajay Kumar Sugandh, Mahesh Kumar Rohira, and Ashish Agarwal.
Property Worth Rs 45 Crore From Adulterated Ghee Fraud Detected
During the raid, the ED claimed to have seized Rs 60 lakh in cash and several incriminating documents that indicated fraudulent sale and purchase transactions using a complex network of legal entities to conceal and launder the proceeds of crime. All of them were involved in the supply chain from the purchase of adulterated ghee to the TTD. Documentary evidence of properties worth over Rs 45 crore emerged from the supply of adulterated ghee.
Earlier, 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.
(With Jagran.com Inputs)