No Evidence of Animal Fat in Laddu Ghee, Says Bhumana Citing SIT Report
He said tender norms were revised in 2021 as per Central government directions to encourage start-up companies.
Tirupati:Former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman and YSRC senior leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy on Thursday said the findings of a CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) had found no evidence of animal fat in the ghee used for the preparation of Tirumala laddus.
Addressing the media, Karunakar Reddy said the SIT had clearly ruled out the use of animal fat, contrary to allegations made by political opponents. He said the report had established that adulteration, wherever it occurred, was due to collusion between certain officials, dairy experts and dairy managements. He said experts Vijayabhaskar Reddy and Surendra, who had been associated with the TTD since 2013, were held responsible by the investigating agency.
Karunakar Reddy said Premier Dairy and Alpha Dairy had been supplying ghee to TTD since 2013 and demanded a CBI inquiry covering the entire period, including 2014–19, to bring out the full facts. He said former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy had approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the 2019–24 period only to ensure transparency. He challenged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to seek a similar probe into the earlier period.
Referring to steps taken during the YSRC government, Karunakar Reddy said 18 ghee tankers were rejected between 2019 and 2024 for failing quality standards, compared to 14 tankers rejected during the current regime. He said tender norms were revised in 2021 as per Central government directions to encourage start-up companies.
He added that the YSRC government had allocated ₹50 crore to the AP Dairy Development Corporation to develop indigenous Gir and Sahiwal cattle and procured advanced beta-sterol testing machines through the National Dairy Development Board to strengthen quality checks. He said ₹5.50 crore was spent on new testing equipment to improve ghee standards.
Karunakar Reddy accused Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan of spreading a false narrative for political gain. He alleged that repeated claims, including those made after September 24, 2024, were aimed at misleading devotees and provoking religious sentiments.