ED attaches Rs 129.85 cr assets in TTD ghee adulteration case

Tirupati: The investigation into the alleged supply of adulterated ghee used in the preparation of Lord Venkateswara’s Laddu Prasadam has taken a fresh turn, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attaching assets worth Rs 129.85 crore belonging to dairy companies, their promoters and other persons linked to the case.

With this latest action, the total value of assets attached, seized or frozen in the case has reached Rs 132.55 crore, the ED said. The agency is probing the alleged money laundering linked to the supply of adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

The assets have been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. They belong to Bhole Baba Organic Dairymilk Pvt Ltd, Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt Ltd, their promoters Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd, its promoter Kailash Chand Mangla, their family members and other related entities and individuals.

The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR registered at Tirupati East police station alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption in the supply of adulterated ghee to TTD. The investigating agency later filed a chargesheet and a supplementary chargesheet before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases in Nellore, detailing the alleged conspiracy.

According to the ED, its investigation under the PMLA revealed that adulterated ghee worth Rs 234.5 crore was supplied to TTD by Bhole Baba, directly and through front dairies that participated in tenders in their own names for commissions. The agency alleged that the ghee was manufactured at the facilities of Bhole Baba and Sukriti Foods by blending refined palm oil, palm kernel oil and palmolein with chemicals such as monoglycerides, acetic acid ester, lactic acid and beta-carotene.

The products were allegedly invoiced as edible oils, while financial records were manipulated to present the operations as genuine dairy businesses. The palm oil used in manufacturing was shown as sold to bogus buyers, while fictitious purchases of milk and ghee and sales of by-products, including skimmed milk, were recorded.

The ED further alleged that payments made through banking channels for fictitious purchases were returned in cash through hawala channels. The money was allegedly used to fund bogus palm-oil buyers, pay commissions to front dairies and make payments to other persons connected with the alleged fraud.

Earlier, on June 3, 2026, the agency conducted searches at 16 premises across Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. The locations were linked to the alleged main conspirators, front dairies, chemical suppliers and accommodation-entry providers. Cash and bank balances worth Rs 2.7 crore were seized or frozen during the searches.

Earlier, the ED has also arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairymilk Pvt Ltd, and Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter and director of Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd.

The agency alleges that they played key roles in manufacturing adulterated ghee and arranging its fraudulent supply to TTD. Further investigation into the alleged money laundering and related financial transactions is under way.

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Pradeep Vennelakanti

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