ED Registers Money Laundering Case in Tirupati Laddu Adulteration Case
10 Feb 2026 3:34 PM IST10 Feb 2026 3:34 PM IST
The federal probe agency booked a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) sometime back to probe the alleged proceeds of crime or illicit funds generated by the accused
The ED has registered a money laundering case to probe an alleged ghee adulteration scam linked to the preparation of 'laddu prasadam' at the famous Tirumala temple in Tirupati. (File Photo)
Tirupati: The investigations into the alleged use of adulterated ghee for preparing the Tirumala Srivari laddus has taken a new turn.
The enforcement directorate said it would probe suspected financial irregularities linked to the supply chain.
The ED registered an enforcement case information report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after examining material gathered by a special investigation team led by the CBI. The SIT had earlier looked into alleged violations in the tendering procedures and quality approvals related to the procurement of ghee for the TTD.
While the SIT probe focused on administrative and technical lapses, the ED inquiry is centred on the financial aspects of the case. Investigators are seeking to determine whether payments were made to influence contracts, inspections and clearances, and whether such transactions were routed through intermediaries, shell companies or informal channels to conceal their origin.
Sources said the scope of the probe includes not only private dairy firms and its representatives but also officials associated with the procurement process in TTD and external dairy experts who were involved in inspections and certifications. Financial records are being examined to identify beneficiaries and establish the flow of funds.
The SIT chargesheet, filed on January 23 before the ACB court in Nellore, named 36 accused, including directors of dairy companies, intermediaries, TTD officials and external experts.
The investigation alleged that a network of entities was used to route transactions amounting to several hundred crore rupees.
The chargesheet stated that ghee not conforming to prescribed standards, allegedly blended with vegetable oils and chemical substances, was approved for laddu preparation after quality checks were compromised.
Based on these findings, the ED has begun tracing the alleged money trail linked to the procurement process.
Sources aid the ED has obtained a comprehensive set of documents from SIT, including FIRs, remand reports, chargesheets and information related to suspected hawala operators. The alleged financial network is said to have connections in several cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vijayawada, Tirupati, parts of Gujarat and Gwalior.
Meanwhile, the state government has initiated an administrative review of the SIT findings. A one-man committee has been constituted to examine the report and suggest corrective and disciplinary measures.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the exercise would focus on identifying lapses and fixing responsibility at appropriate levels.
The ED registered an enforcement case information report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after examining material gathered by a special investigation team led by the CBI. The SIT had earlier looked into alleged violations in the tendering procedures and quality approvals related to the procurement of ghee for the TTD.
While the SIT probe focused on administrative and technical lapses, the ED inquiry is centred on the financial aspects of the case. Investigators are seeking to determine whether payments were made to influence contracts, inspections and clearances, and whether such transactions were routed through intermediaries, shell companies or informal channels to conceal their origin.
Sources said the scope of the probe includes not only private dairy firms and its representatives but also officials associated with the procurement process in TTD and external dairy experts who were involved in inspections and certifications. Financial records are being examined to identify beneficiaries and establish the flow of funds.
The SIT chargesheet, filed on January 23 before the ACB court in Nellore, named 36 accused, including directors of dairy companies, intermediaries, TTD officials and external experts.
The investigation alleged that a network of entities was used to route transactions amounting to several hundred crore rupees.
The chargesheet stated that ghee not conforming to prescribed standards, allegedly blended with vegetable oils and chemical substances, was approved for laddu preparation after quality checks were compromised.
Based on these findings, the ED has begun tracing the alleged money trail linked to the procurement process.
Sources aid the ED has obtained a comprehensive set of documents from SIT, including FIRs, remand reports, chargesheets and information related to suspected hawala operators. The alleged financial network is said to have connections in several cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vijayawada, Tirupati, parts of Gujarat and Gwalior.
Meanwhile, the state government has initiated an administrative review of the SIT findings. A one-man committee has been constituted to examine the report and suggest corrective and disciplinary measures.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the exercise would focus on identifying lapses and fixing responsibility at appropriate levels.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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