Hyderabad: Enforcement Directorate has initiated a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into the Tirupati laddu adulteration case, registering an Enforcement Case Information Report against the accused and launching a formal probe, ED sources said.According to the special investigation team’s (SIT) supplementary chargesheet, the case revolves around alleged hawala-based cash transactions and illegal gratification paid by private dairy firms and intermediaries to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials to influence ghee tenders and quality clearances. Forensic examination of mobile phones, WhatsApp chats and Excel sheets is stated to have revealed documented payments to the then general manager (procurement), TTD, and smaller sums to other officials, routed through cash couriers and hawala operators. The SIT alleges a criminal conspiracy between directors of various dairies and TTD officials to supply adulterated and ‘noxious’ ghee for the preparation of sacred prasadams. Ineligible dairies are accused of submitting forged documents, including experience certificates, FSSAI returns and lab reports, to secure tenders by quoting unviable low rates. Public servants allegedly ignored discrepancies in return for bribes and issued favourable plant inspection reports.CFTRI report suppressedThe chargesheet further states that suppliers used monoglycerides, lactic acid and refined oils — palm, palm kernel and palmolein — to mimic pure cow ghee. It also alleges that Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, test reports confirming adulteration (Beta Sitosterol-positive) were deliberately suppressed by TTD officials to allow continued supply. The supplementary chargesheet names several recipients of alleged bribes. Kaduru Chinnappanna (accused-24), PA to the then TTD chairman, is accused of receiving 50 lakh in cash and demanding 25 per kg from a supplier. RSSVR Subrahmanyam (A-29), then GM (procurement), allegedly received 3.5 lakh in cash, a Samsung Galaxy S-20 phone worth 50,000 and a silver coin. Maddi Vijayabhasker Reddy (A-34), a dairy expert, is accused of taking 7.5 lakh for inspections, a Kundan gold coin and 75 lakh through hawala. The SIT alleges that Apurva Chavda (A-5), CEO of Sri Vyshnavi Dairy, received 19.86 crore through hawala channels. Smaller alleged payments to TTD staff and probe panel members are also listed, along with gifts.Routing thru agentsAccording to the SIT, bribes were mainly paid by Pomil Jain (A-3) and Vipin Jain (A-4) of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, with funds routed through commission agents. The money trail, the chargesheet states, involved ‘round-tripping’ and a hawala network moving funds from Delhi hawala shops to agents in Vijayawada (Bharat Bhai Thakur), Chennai (Madaram Dewasi), and Hyderabad (Arjun Goswami), allegedly using a token-based currency verification system.The SIT claims that 59,71,781 kg of adulterated ghee was supplied and Rs 234.51 crore misappropriated. It also alleges diversion of profits through high salaries, construction of a luxury house for Pomil Jain and purchase of commercial plots.On adulteration, the chargesheet states the ghee was largely vegetable-fat based, noting that subsequent tests by National Dairy Development Board’s Centre of Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food, and National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, did not detect specific animal fats such as lard or tallow.
