SIT finds no animal fat in Tirupati laddoo; YSRCP seeks apology from CM Naidu & Pawan Kalyan

New Delhi: As CBI-led SIT filed its final charge sheet in the Tirupati laddoo case with no mention of adulteration with animal fat, the opposition YSRCP accused chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and deputy CM Pawan Kalyan of playing with the religious beliefs of Hindus and demanded an apology.

SIT filed the charge sheet before the anti-corruption bureau court in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore after a 15-month investigation.

"The chief minister has played with the religious sentiments of people," YSRCP's Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy told media persons.


"SIT's final charge sheet has clearly stated that the ghee used was adulterated with palm oil, palm kernel oil and chemical additives. It has no mention of lard."

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 laddoos during his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy's regime from 2019-24. The Supreme Court then ordered the formation of an SIT.

In its final charge sheet, the SIT named 36 persons as accused, including Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, directors of Uttarakhand-based Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, who have been identified as the main masterminds behind the fraud.

YSRCP accused the ruling TDP of falsely making people believe they had consumed laddoos laden with animal fat. TDP, on its part, sought to steer clear of the issue of animal fat adulteration. Party spokesperson Jyothsna Tirunagari told ET, "SIT report has clearly said ghee used from 2019 to 2024 was adulterated. It has noted not a single drop of milk was used in making this ghee. During this time, almost 1.61 crore kg ghee was purchased and 60 lakh kg was adulterated. This means 20 crore laddoos were prepared with adulterated ghee. YSRCP has played with religious sentiments of Hindus and tried to make Tirumala a business venture."