A government-appointed probe has uncovered serious lapses in the procurement of ghee used for preparing the iconic Tirupati laddu, pointing to administrative failures and weak enforcement of rules within the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The one-man committee, headed by retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar, was constituted earlier this year following allegations and lab reports confirming adulteration in ghee supplies.
The committee examined the tender process, supplier selection, and quality control mechanisms, concluding that the issue went beyond mere failure to detect adulteration. Instead, it stemmed from how procurement norms were framed and implemented. The report highlighted that the procurement committee created conditions that allowed irregularities to persist unchecked.
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Key decisions, including relaxation of tender norms, were reportedly taken without the full committee present. Among those involved were political and administrative figures, including Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy. The absence of the procurement general manager, who serves as the convener, further weakened procedural safeguards.
The probe also found that standard norms were frequently violated. In some instances, bidders were allowed to revise prices even after reverse auctions, while abnormally low bids were accepted without adequate scrutiny. Such practices raised serious concerns about the ability of suppliers to maintain quality standards.
Earlier laboratory findings had already detected non-dairy substances in the ghee, but action was delayed. The report concluded that these systemic lapses directly contributed to the use of adulterated ghee in the prasadam.
The inquiry was initiated after a Special Investigation Team, formed under the supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation, filed a chargesheet. The findings are expected to guide further action by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
