In a shocking turn of events, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the organization responsible for managing the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, has blacklisted a dairy supplier for allegedly supplying adulterated ghee.

The dairy, identified as AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd, is accused of providing ghee mixed with animal fat and lard, a serious violation of food purity standards.

The issue came to light during routine laboratory tests conducted on the ghee supplied by AR Dairy in June and July 2024. The results revealed the presence of animal fat and lard, which raised concerns about the quality of the ghee used to prepare the famous laddu prasadam offered to devotees.

This prasadam, a sacred offering, is highly revered by millions of pilgrims visiting the temple, and any compromise in its purity is taken very seriously.

Following the discovery, TTD's Executive Officer, J. Shyamala Rao, confirmed the adulteration and announced the immediate discontinuation of ghee supplies from AR Dairy. TTD has filed legal complaints against the dairy, and investigations are ongoing.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) have arrested four operators linked to the dairy supply chain, including individuals from AR Dairy, Bhole Baba Dairy, and Vaishnavi Dairy. These individuals are accused of falsifying documents to secure the tender for supplying ghee to the temple.

AR Dairy denies the allegations, stating that its product samples had passed quality checks by the relevant authorities. However, TTD is taking strict measures to prevent further incidents and maintain the sanctity of its offerings. The incident has sparked a conversation about the need for stronger regulatory oversight in religious institutions to ensure the purity and quality of food offerings.