CBI Probe Shocks Devotees: Adulterated Ghee Used in TTD Offerings for Years
Probe Exposes ₹250-Crore Fake Ghee Scam by Bhole Baba Dairy
A shocking revelation has emerged from the ongoing investigation into the adulterated ghee scam involving Bhole Baba Dairy. The dairy, which supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for over five years, is now at the center of a massive ₹250-crore fraud.
SIT Uncovers Massive Ghee Adulteration Operation
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), operating under the supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has discovered that Bhole Baba Dairy supplied approximately 68 lakh kilograms of spurious ghee to the TTD between 2019 and 2024. Startlingly, the dairy had not procured a single litre of milk or butter during this period.
Chemicals Used to Fake Quality Tests
Investigators revealed that the dairy used monodiglycerides and acetic acid esters to manipulate ghee quality test results. The presence of these chemicals helped the adulterated product pass the Reichert-Meissl (RM) value test, a key indicator of purity used by the TTD quality control department.
Records show Bhole Baba Dairy purchased acetic acid esters worth ₹7 crore between 2022 and 2024 from Ajay Kumar Sugandh, who has now been arrested and named as Accused No. 16 (A-16) in the case.
🚨 Tirupati Temple given 68 lakh kg fake Ghee worth ₹250 crore between 2019 and 2024: CBI https://t.co/XbJSs5ogtk pic.twitter.com/G5Zac2yWMAA
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) November 10, 2025
Fake Records and Shell Companies Exposed
The probe found that Bhole Baba Dairy produced falsified milk procurement and payment records to create an illusion of legitimate operations. Local dairy farmers confirmed they never supplied milk to the company.
In reality, the promoters used palm oil and kernel oil sourced under the name Harsh Fresh Dairy from a Delhi-based importer of Malaysian oils. These ingredients were blended with chemicals to manufacture the fake ghee that was then supplied exclusively to the TTD.
Defunct Dairy Units and Blacklisted Operations
Investigators discovered that the accused promoters acquired a defunct dairy unit in Bhagawanpur, Uttarakhand, to set up their spurious ghee operation. Even more alarming, despite being blacklisted by TTD in 2022, Bhole Baba Dairy continued to supply adulterated ghee.
To bypass restrictions, they routed bids through other dairies, including:
- Vyshnavi Dairy (Tirupati)
- Mal Ganga Dairy (Uttar Pradesh)
- AR Dairy Foods (Tamil Nadu)
Supply Worth ₹250 Crore and False Documentation
According to the SIT’s remand report submitted to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Court in Nellore, Bhole Baba Dairy managed to supply spurious ghee worth ₹250 crore through carefully fabricated supply chains and documents. The entire operation allegedly aimed at maximizing profits while jeopardizing the sanctity of offerings made to the TTD temple kitchens.
CBI Supervision and Nationwide Ripple Effect
The SIT, under CBI’s direct supervision, continues to identify how such large-scale adulteration escaped detection for years. The investigation is expected to widen, focusing on other intermediaries and officials who may have facilitated supply approvals despite the blacklisting.
This startling exposure serves as a grim reminder of how systemic corruption and manipulation of quality benchmarks can compromise the integrity of products used in sacred and public institutions.
