Tirupati Laddu adulterated with palm oil instead of ghee: TTD received Rs 96 crore worth fake ghee as Agmark Special Grade Ghee; ED arrests supplier Mangla

Enforcement Directorate has alleged that ghee used to prepare the famous Tirupati Laddu prasadam was manufactured using refined palm oil, palmolein, palm kernel oil and various chemicals before being supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee. The agency has arrested Sukriti Foods promoter Kailash Chand Mangla in connection with the alleged adulteration case, according to PTI.

ED said Mangla was arrested by its Hyderabad office on September 17 in connection with its money laundering probe into the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied to TTD. He was later produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Visakhapatnam, which sent him to judicial custody.

What did ED find in the ghee used for Tirupati Laddu?

According to ED, the adulterated ghee was allegedly manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil and palmolein instead of being made entirely from genuine cow ghee.


The agency also named several chemicals allegedly used in the manufacturing process. These include MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester.

ED alleged that the resulting product was subsequently supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee for use by TTD.

The allegations relate to ghee supplies made to TTD between 2019 and 2024. The agency said the alleged fraudulent supplies during this period were valued at around Rs 230 crore.

How much adulterated ghee was allegedly made by Sukriti Foods?

ED has specifically linked Rs 96 crore worth of the alleged adulterated ghee to Mangla.

According to the agency, out of the alleged Rs 230 crore worth of fraudulent ghee supplies to TTD between 2019 and 2024, Mangla manufactured adulterated ghee valued at around Rs 96 crore at his factory.

The agency has described Mangla as one of the alleged co-conspirators in the case. It claimed he facilitated the procurement of adulterants and manufactured the adulterated ghee at his factory premises.

How was the alleged adulterated ghee supplied to TTD?

ED alleged that Mangla coordinated the supply of the adulterated ghee through several entities.

These included Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products and A.R. Dairy Foods.

The agency said these entities were used in the alleged supply chain through which the adulterated product was supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee.

ED also alleged that Mangla created and maintained false records related to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil.

According to the agency, these records were intended to conceal the actual use of adulterants and create an appearance of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee.

What did ED say about the records?

The agency alleged that the records maintained by Mangla were part of an attempt to hide the use of palm-based oils and other adulterants.

ED said Mangla "created and maintained false records relating to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil", alleging that the purpose was to conceal the actual use of adulterants and make the production and supply appear legitimate.

The agency has not described the allegations as a concluded finding against Mangla. The investigation into the alleged adulteration and money laundering remains ongoing.

What happened after Mangla's arrest?

Mangla was taken into custody by ED's Hyderabad office on September 17. After his arrest, he was produced before the special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam, which sent him to judicial custody.

The latest arrest follows an earlier arrest in the same investigation. ED had previously arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, on similar charges.

ED's investigation stems from the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied for the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

The agency's latest statement has put the focus on the alleged use of refined palm oil, palmolein, palm kernel oil and chemicals in ghee that was subsequently supplied to TTD as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee. ED has also alleged that the supply network involved multiple entities and that false records were maintained to make the transactions appear legitimate.