Amravati/New Delhi, February 10 The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case to investigate an alleged adulteration scam related to the preparation of 'laddu prasadam' at the famous Tirumala temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, officials said.
The federal investigation agency booked a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) some time back to investigate the alleged proceeds of crime or illicit funds generated by the accused, they said.
The ED is examining the FIR, documents, and chargesheet recently filed in the case by a CBI-led special investigation team (SIT), the officials said.
The SIT has named 36 people, including nine officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and five dairy experts, as accused in the matter.
According to the SIT's findings, the original material that was sold to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple body as ghee was chemically processed palmolein oil and other ingredients.
The ED is investigating the alleged money laundering by the accused and the possible generation of illicit funds by the accused through ghee adulteration, the officials said.
They said that the agency suspects the involvement of hawala dealings and diversion of funds by the accused in this case.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had claimed in September 2024 that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus (consecrated sweet) during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime in the state, triggering a massive political row.
According to TTD Chairman B R Naidu, who addressed a press conference in January, nearly 60 lakh kg of adulterated ghee, valued at approximately Rs 250 crore, was supplied to the TTD during the previous YSRCP government.
