TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams lodged a police complaint against Tamil Nadu-based AR dairy foods private limited, located in Dindugal, for supplying ghee adulterated with animal fats to the Tirupati trust.
It may be recalled that AR Dairy Foods, which was awarded the ghee supply contract for the first time in May this year by the TTD, had supplied about ten tankers of ghee in June and July this year.
This ghee was to be used in the preparation of the sacred Tirupati Laddu and other Naivedya prasadams at the world-renowned Tirumala temple.
However, after TTD drew samples from four tankers and sent them for tests to the NDDB CALF, lab reports confirmed that the ghee was adulterated with lard (pig fat), fish oil, palm oil, and beef tallow.
While the TTD immediately blacklisted AR Dairy Foods and the Andhra Pradesh chief minister made a startling revelation to the devotees about the use of ghee adulterated with animal fats in the making of the sacred Tirupati Laddu prasadams last week, there was a severe backlash from the devotees of Lord Venkateswara worldwide, demanding stringent action against all involved in this act of degeneration.
And while the TTD conducted a Shanti Homam and Samprokshanam at the hill temple on Monday to ward off the sinful effects of the use of animal fats in the ghee used in the preparation of Srivari prasadams, the state govt constituted a SIT (Special Investigation Team) to conduct a deeper investigation into the alleged nexus and conspiracy.
While the AP govt-appointed SIT is about to start its investigation into the ghee adulteration row, TTD’s general manager for procurement, Murali Krishna, lodged a formal police complaint against AR dairy foods private limited at the Tirupati East police station on Wednesday.
In his complaint, the TTD GM alleged that by supplying ghee adulterated with animal fats to the TTD, AR dairy foods grossly violated all the tender norms, thereby causing anguish and agony among millions of devotees across the globe.
He further appealed to the police to also investigate the alleged nexus and conspiracy involved in this case.
