Tirumala Laddu scam: ED launches money-laundering probe

The controversy surrounding the alleged use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of the sacred Tirumala laddu prasadam has taken a serious new turn, with a CBI Special Investigation Team (SIT) uncovering shocking details of chemical manipulation, corruption, and large-scale financial irregularities.

According to findings submitted by the CBI SIT, the ghee supplied for  laddu preparation was not pure and had been artificially manufactured using various chemicals to imitate the aroma and texture of genuine cow ghee. Investigators stated that several batches of ghee failed quality standards, yet were still cleared for use, pointing to deliberate manipulation at multiple levels.

The SIT report has also brought to light deep-rooted corruption in the tendering process, supply chain management, and laboratory testing procedures. Officials found that contracts for ghee supply were allegedly awarded in violation of established norms and that test reports were tampered with or ignored to facilitate the use of substandard material.

More alarming, however, are the financial dimensions of the scandal. The SIT investigation has revealed that profits generated through these dubious contracts were allegedly siphoned off through an extensive hawala network. Investigators traced illegal money transfers amounting to over ₹234.5 crore that were routed to various cities including Delhi, Chennai, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad. The funds are believed to have been laundered through shell companies and benami accounts.

In response to these findings, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally stepped in and registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has begun a parallel investigation to trace the money trail, identify beneficiaries, and attach properties acquired through illicit gains.

Officials believe the ED probe could unravel a much larger nexus involving contractors, middlemen, and officials connected to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Sources indicate that several individuals and firms named in the SIT report are likely to be summoned for questioning in the coming days. The scandal has triggered widespread outrage among devotees and the Andhra Pradesh government has assured full cooperation with central agencies and promised exemplary punishment for anyone found guilty. As the investigations intensify, the case is expected to take more dramatic turns, potentially exposing one of the biggest corruption scandals linked to a religious institution in recent years.