Sukriti Foods promoter arrested in TTD ghee adulteration probe

TIRUPATI: The alleged adulterated ghee supply case involving the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) took a fresh turn with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd on Thursday.

Mangla was arrested by the ED’s Hyderabad Zonal Office under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was later produced before the PMLA Special Court in Visakhapatnam on Friday, which remanded him in judicial custody.

The money laundering probe was launched based on an FIR registered at the Tirupati East police station. During its investigation, the ED alleged that Mangla was involved in manufacturing adulterated ghee at his factory and arranging materials required for the adulteration. According to the agency, Mangla was also allegedly part of a conspiracy to supply the adulterated product to the TTD by passing it off as genuine cow ghee. The ED estimated that allegedly fraudulent ghee supplies made to the TTD between 2019 and 2024 were worth around Rs 230 crore.

Of this, the agency alleged that adulterated ghee valued at nearly Rs 96 crore was manufactured by Mangla during the period. The ED said the product was prepared using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil and palmolein, besides chemicals such as MG 90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester.

The agency alleged that the adulterated product was supplied as Agmark Special Grade cow ghee for use in the preparation of Laddu Prasadam at Tirumala. The investigation also identified the alleged involvement of several entities in the supply chain. The ED said Mangla coordinated the supplies through firms including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt Ltd, Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt Ltd and AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd.

The agency further alleged that false records were created and maintained to conceal the use of adulterants. These records allegedly showed purchases and sales of ghee and refined palm oil in a manner that gave the appearance of genuine cow ghee being manufactured and supplied. The arrest is part of the ED’s ongoing money laundering investigation into the alleged adulterated ghee supplies and the financial transactions linked to the case.

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Pradeep Vennelakanti

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