ED arrests ghee firm promoter in Tirupati Laddu adulteration case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday alleged that adulterated ghee used in the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadam was manufactured using refined palm oil, palmolein, palm kernel oil and various chemicals, as the agency arrested a ghee manufacturing company promoter in a money laundering case linked to alleged adulteration.

The ED said Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods, was arrested by its Hyderabad office on September 17 in connection with the alleged Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case.

Mangla was produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Visakhapatnam, which sent him to judicial custody, according to the agency.

The ED alleged that its investigation found adulterated ghee was manufactured at Mangla's factory using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and chemicals including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester. The agency alleged that the product was subsequently supplied to TTD as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee.

According to the ED, allegedly fraudulent ghee supplies to TTD between 2019 and 2024 were valued at around Rs 230 crore. Of this, the agency claimed that Mangla manufactured approximately Rs 96 crore worth of adulterated ghee.

The probe agency alleged that Mangla was one of the co-conspirators in the case and facilitated the procurement of adulterants before manufacturing the adulterated ghee at his factory.

The ED further alleged that he coordinated the supply through front entities, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products and A.R. Dairy Foods.

The agency also accused Mangla of creating and maintaining false records for the purchase and sale of ghee and refined palm oil. According to the ED, the alleged records were intended to conceal the actual use of adulterants and create the appearance that genuine cow ghee had been produced and supplied.

The ED had earlier arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, in connection with similar allegations in the case.

The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied for the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

with inputs from PTI