SIT to File Charge Sheet in Laddu Ghee Case Soon

Tirupati: The CBI’s Special Investigation Team probing the alleged ghee adulteration in the Tirumala laddu prasadam is likely to file a second charge sheet by the end of January.

The investigation, which has been underway for over a year, has reached its final stage with key processes such as collection of evidence, recording of statements and scrutiny of documents having largely been completed. Sources said SIT is currently engaged in final legal vetting and documentation work. It would file the supplementary charge sheet in the Nellore ACB Court in the next two weeks.

CBI joint director S Veeresh Prabhu visited the SIT office in Tirupati last week and held a meeting with SIT officers. He examined the progress of the probe and the case files. The meeting was attended by Guntur Range IG Sarvashresth Tripathi, Visakhapatnam Range DIG Gopinath Jatti, DIG Murali Ramba and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India adviser Satyen Kumar Panda, among others.

The SIT has so far named 36 accused in the case. Several of them have been arrested, while others were issued notices and questioned in custody.

The investigation found that some TTD officials and dairy experts conspired in granting approvals for supply of adulterated ghee. Recently, the anticipatory bail petition filed by dairy expert Vijayabhaskar Reddy, listed as A-34 in the case, was dismissed by the Nellore ACB court after it agreed with the arguments presented by the prosecution.

With the case entering a decisive phase, the SIT is also learnt to be considering the arrest of a few individuals. Officials said a comprehensive charge sheet would be filed after these steps, following which a detailed report on the investigation would be submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover.

Sources said the CBI joint director stressed the need to ensure there were no legal lapses and that the case stands firm in court.