The Special Investigation Team (SIT), working under CBI supervision, has arrested a senior engineering department official of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in the laddu-ghee adulteration case, an SIT officer said. Guntur Range I-G Sarvasresti Tripathi identified the arrested official as RSSVR Subrahmanyam, a former General Manager (Procurement) at TTD, responsible for sourcing key materials, including ghee for laddu preparation.

On September 26, the Supreme Court stayed an Andhra Pradesh High Court order that claimed the CBI Director violated court directions by appointing an officer outside the SIT to probe the adulterated ghee allegations. On June 6, the TTD launched legal action against several unauthorized sellers and promoters misusing the “Tirupati Laddu” name, which holds a registered Geographical Indication (GI). Legal notices were issued through Sahadeva Law Chambers to multiple platforms, including PushMyCart (Mahita LLC) and Transact Foods Limited, for falsely linking their products to the temple.

In February 2025, the SIT led by the CBI had arrested four people and sent them to judicial remand after confirming ghee adulteration in the preparation of the Tirumala Srivari Laddu. The agency found major lapses in TTD’s e-tendering process, and the remand report named AR Dairy, Vaishnavi Dairy, and Bhole Baba Dairy as involved in the case.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.