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Science demands certainty, while politics operates on probability to draw conclusions. Triumala Tripuathi Devastanam (TTD) Laddu Prasadham considered as a sacred divine offering by Hindus across the globe has now been drawn into a political storm dominated by a series of serious allegations hurting the sentiments of devotees.
On September 18, 2024 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu made a serious allegation against the previous YSRCP Government, citing ghee used in making TTD Laddu Prasadham was adulterated with animal fat. Later, TTD officials backed Naidu’s allegations saying ghee samples taken from four tankers collected at Tirumala on 6 July and 12 July, about a month after Naidu assumed the office and were sent to the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (NDDB-CALF) for adulteration tests. According to then TTD Executive Officer, Syamala Rao those four tankers were kept aside and sent back to AR Diary after NDDB CALF report showed adulteration.
Following several petitions filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court investigation, the Supreme Court on Oct 04, 2024, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of two officials each from CBI and AP Police along with a senior Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) official, to probe into the allegations.
Key Findings from Investigation:
After 16 months of Investigation, on January 23, 2026 CBI led SIT filed final chargesheet before Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Court in Nellore, AP mentioned findings of two lab reports one by National Dairy Development Board at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock (NDDB CALF) at Gujarat’s Anand and other by ICAR – National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI) in Haryana’s Karnal and found no traces of beef tallow or lard but presence of palm oil and accused 36 persons including ghee suppliers and some TTD employees.
Further Charge Sheet mentioned that the four ghee tankers from AR Diary rejected by TTD after the earlier NDDB CALF report of adulteration were re-labelled with a different date and rerouted back to TTD on August 2024 and used for laddu preparation.
On February 6, 2026 CM Chandra Babu Naidu made another allegation that ghee used for laddu preparation was adulterated with bathroom cleaning chemicals. Naidu claim was based on SIT finding large quantity of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LABSA) purchased by one of the supplier Harsh Fresh Dairy . While LABSA is used to make cleaners but charge sheet did not mention that LABSA was used by Harsh Diary to prepare ghee.
AP Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan alleged that laddus prepared with adulterated ghee was even sent for the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in 2024. But one lakh prepared by TTD and sent to Ram Mandhir was prepared using ghee donated by TTD Board member Sourabh Bora and former board member J Rameshwar Rao.
Conclusion:
Allegations concerning religion and faith are sensitive subjects and demands responsible discussion. Now that the matter is subjudise all political parties should refrain from drawing conclusions and allow the judicial process to run its course until a final verdict is delivered.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.