On the second day of its investigation into the alleged adulterated ghee case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) held another crucial meeting at the Tirupati police guest house. The SIT, led by DIG Gopinath Jetty, SP Harshavardhan Raju, and additional SP Venkata Rao, has been divided into three teams to expedite the investigation into the ghee adulteration scandal that has rocked Tirumala’s laddu prasadam production.
The investigation, initiated after a complaint by the general manager of Procurement at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), is now focused on various aspects of the case, including the involvement of officers and staff members. The TTD Board is also conducting its own internal inquiry into the matter. SIT members are scheduled to meet TTD executive officer Shyamala Rao on Sunday to gather comprehensive details about the procurement process and the role of various officials. Following this, the SIT is expected to visit Tamil Nadu to further investigate suppliers connected to ghee. In particular, the team will inspect AR Dairy Foods, based in Dundigal, which has been a key supplier of ghee to TTD.
One SIT team will focus on the laddu-making process at Tirumala’s sales outlets, while another team will inspect raw materials used in laddu production. The Sri Vaishnavas involved in the preparation of the laddus will also be questioned as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, a third team will conduct an inquiry at the TTD administrative building in Tirupati, scrutinizing the purchase agreements between TTD and AR Dairy. These agreements, particularly the terms of ghee supply, will undergo thorough examination to identify any discrepancies or violations.