The controversy over the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the sacred laddus at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has flared up anew, with fresh accusations from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu – intensifying the rift between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA alliance and the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The issue, which has stirred religious sentiments among millions of devotees, centers on claims of procurement irregularities during the YSRCP’s tenure from 2019 to 2024, leading to substandard ingredients in the temple’s prasadam.
The latest developments stem from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, submitted on February 5, which highlighted significant lapses in ghee procurement processes. The CBI-led probe pointed to tender modifications in 2020 that relaxed quality standards, allowing ineligible private suppliers like Vyshnavi and Bhole Baba to provide ghee, bypassing established cooperatives and expert verifications.
Key figures, including former TTD officials C. Bhaskar Reddy and B. Karunakar Reddy, were implicated in pushing these changes, which allegedly enabled the use of contaminated ghee. While the SIT confirmed no presence of animal fats such as beef tallow or lard in the tested samples, contradicting earlier sensational claims, it highlighted the procedural violations that could have compromised the sanctity of the laddus.
YSRCP leaders, including Botcha Satyanarayana, hailed the findings as a vindication, accusing the NDA of spreading ‘false narratives’ to tarnish their reputation and demanding an apology from CM Naidu. They claimed that the report exonerates former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and proves the laddus were prepared with traditional, pure ingredients.
However, CM Chandrababu Naidu rejected any notion of a clean chit, emphasizing that the probe exposed deep-rooted misconduct and suppressed warnings from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in 2022 about adulteration issues. On February 6, during a public address in Kurnool’s Yemmiganur, he escalated the allegations, claiming that the adulterated ghee contained ‘chemicals used for cleaning bathrooms,’ describing it as a deliberate desecration rather than an oversight.
He further alleged similar issues at the Srisailam Temple and vowed that no one involved would be spared.
In response to the SIT’s conclusions, the state government announced on February 5 the formation of a one-man committee to thoroughly review the report, identify accountability, and implement reforms to restore temple practices.
Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar criticized the YSRCP for lacking moral standing to comment, noting that tests revealed no genuine ghee in the claimed 60 lakh liters supplied. The NDA coalition, including allies like Jana Sena and BJP, convened to discuss the committee’s scope, amid concerns that the SIT may not have explored all scientific testing avenues.
The row has deepened political divisions, with YSRCP accusing CM Chandrababu Naidu of manipulating the one-man panel for a biased outcome to sustain the controversy.
Devotees and experts alike expressed concern over the blending of faith and politics, urging a swift resolution to preserve the temple’s revered status. As the one-man committee begins its work, the scandal continues to dominate the discourse.