TIRUPATI/VIJAYAWADA: The Supreme Court-appointed CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has reportedly written to the Andhra Pradesh government, seeking disciplinary action and criminal proceedings against several accused, and government officials in connection with the Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration case.
According to sources, the SIT sent three separate letters to different State authorities, highlighting serious administrative lapses, and alleging that officials from the Boiler Department, District Industries Department, and the State GST failed to detect adulterated ghee during inspections at dairy plants, and ghee transportation in tankers.
In the first letter, the SIT reportedly wrote to the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), requesting action against Chinnappan, Accused No. 24, and several TTD staffers involved in the case. The SIT sought a detailed probe and initiation of criminal proceedings under corruption-related laws, citing findings of disproportionate assets of the accused. The second letter was addressed to the Boiler Department, calling for action against boiler inspectors and other officials for failing to discharge their statutory duties.
The investigation found that poor monitoring and negligent inspections of large industrial boilers at dairies and ghee storage units enabled the continuation of illegal activities involving adulterated ghee.
In the third letter, the SIT reportedly wrote to the Principal Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh government, seeking action against GST officials at checkposts along routes used by ghee tankers travelling to Tirupati.
The letter highlighted serious lapses at interstate border checkposts, particularly on Tamil Nadu-AP and Karnataka-AP routes, where officials allegedly failed to record tanker details, verify documents, and monitor consignments effectively.
Sources said the SIT emphasised in all three letters that responsibility should be fixed, and strict action be taken against both the accused and the negligent officials involved in the laddu ghee adulteration case.
Further, the SIT had flagged lapses in preparing Srivari Laddu Prasadam between 2019 and 2024, besides mentioning several related issues during the course of inquiry.
Govt ‘serious’ on YSRCP’s propaganda
The sources further revealed that apart from confirming that adulterated ghee was used in preparing Srivari Laddu Prasadam, also suggested corrective measures to the government. The authorities are learnt to have decided to respond on the issue only after a thorough study of the content of the SIT letter. The government is said to be very serious on the YSRCP’s misleading tactics claiming that the SIT had given a clean chit in the adulterated ghee issue.
The government is planning to counter the malicious propaganda effectively, and to take stringent action against those responsible for it, sources said, adding that it will not compromise on safeguarding the sanctity of the TTD and faith of devotees.