The Enforcement Directorate (ED) levelled a striking allegation amid the ongoing Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row on Saturday, saying that the ghee used to prepare the prasadam was manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and various other chemicals before being supplied as cow ghee to the shrine. 

The agency’s discovery is part of the probe into the alleged fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) between 2019 and 2024. As per the ED’s submissions, the alleged fraudulent supplies during the said period amount to Rs 230 crore, including Rs 96 crore worth of adulterated ghee allegedly manufactured by Kailash Chand Mangla, the promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd. 

The allegations surfaced after the ED arrested Mangla in connection with the case. 

What was the ghee allegedly made of?

The ED sleuths alleged that the adulterated ghee allegedly supplied for preparing Tirupati Laddu prasadam was manufactured by means of palm oil, palm kernel oil and palmolein, along with various chemicals. 

The agency specifically named MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester among the chemicals allegedly used in the manufacturing process. The ED added to the allegations, saying that the resultant product was subsequently supplied to the shrine under the description of ‘Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee.’ 

The agency said the product had been manufactured using the said adulterants and chemicals and was then supplied as cow ghee. 

Rs 230 cr gained in alleged fraudulent supplies

The agency went on to say that Mangla coordinated the supply of the adulterated ghee by means of various entities that it called ‘front entities.’ These included Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt Ltd, Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd and AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd. 

According to the ED, Mangla also allegedly fabricated and maintained false records pertaining to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil. As per the agency’s claims, these records were maintained to conceal the alleged use of adulterants and create an appearance of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee. 

Sukriti Foods Promoter falls into ED’s dragnet

The Hyderabad zonal office of the ED arrested Mangla on September 17 under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was then produced  before the Special Court (PMLA) in Visakhapatnam, which remanded him to judicial custody, the agency said. 

The ED said its probe was conducted on the basis of an FIR registered at Tirupati East Police station. The FIR mentions sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption in connection with the alleged fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to the TTD. 

The allegations levelled by the ED carry immense significance as the ghee in question was allegedly supplied for the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadam, a religious offering linked to the Tirumala temple.