Laddoos row: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams seeks micro-DNA test, YSRCP claims moral victory

New Delhi: The war of words between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSRCP over use of adulterated ghee in Tirupati laddoos sharpened today with Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) demanding micro DNA testing to find the truth and the Opposition claiming moral victory over SIT’s final chargesheet not finding presence of animal lard in the ghee.

TTD chairman B R Naidu accused YSRCP of politicizing the issue of adulteration of ghee used in Tirupati laddoos. Addressing the media in Tirupati, B R Naidu said attempts were being made to mislead devotees by falsely claiming that the ghee adulteration issue had received a “clean chit”.

“This is completely false. SIT chargesheet itself clearly records that adulteration took place, and that ghee procurement tender norms were deliberately violated to benefit select entities,” said B R Naidu.


Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had kicked up a political storm in September 2024 when he alleged that ghee adulterated with animal fat (beef tallow and lard) had been used to make Tirupati laddoo during his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy’s regime from 2019 to 2024. Supreme Court ordered formation of an SIT which has now submitted a final chargesheet, which does not mention presence of animal fat in the adulterated ghee. B R Naidu said the chief minister had made his statement on the basis of a report by the accredited NDDB-CALF laboratory.

YSRCP slammed the ruling party and accused Naidu of a “massive political conspiracy”. Former minister Ambati Rambabu said reports from premier national institutions, incorporated in the final chargesheet, have demolished the “false narrative allegedly created for political gain by Chandrababu Naidu”. YSRCP also demanded that posters alleging ghee adulteration with animal fat and accusing YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy of personally being involved should be removed. YSRCP state general secretary Lella Appi Reddy said large posters and flex banners had recently appeared at prominent public places in Vinukonda, Piduguralla, Darsi and Guntur and were “false and defamatory”.