In a concerning development, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has lodged a police complaint against Tamil Nadu-based AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd, accusing the company of supplying adulterated ghee for the preparation of its sacred laddu prasadam. The complaint was filed with the Tirupati East police on Wednesday following a recent controversy over the use of substandard ghee at the Tirumala temple.
TTD Executive Officer Syamala Rao revealed that four tanker loads of ghee, supplied by AR Dairy, had been rejected after suspicions arose about its quality. The temple management has indicated that criminal charges may be pursued against the company for the incident. According to the complaint, TTD had placed an order for 10 lakh kg of ghee with AR Dairy Foods on May 15, intended for use in laddu preparations. Between June 12 and July 6, four batches of ghee were delivered, and although they initially passed traditional quality checks, they were not thoroughly examined for adulteration at the time.
The issue came to light after TTD began receiving numerous complaints from devotees regarding the poor quality of the laddu prasadam. In response, the temple management launched a deeper investigation, sending ghee samples to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for comprehensive testing. The NDDB’s results reportedly confirmed the presence of foreign substances, including animal fat, in the ghee.
This has raised significant concerns among devotees and temple authorities, as the laddu prasadam is considered a sacred offering. TTD has assured the public that strict action will be taken to maintain the sanctity of prasadam preparations. Syamala Rao reiterated the commitment of the temple management to upholding the highest standards for devotees, and further actions will be determined based on the ongoing investigation.
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