“Using adulterated ghee in the laddu prasadam of Shri Venkateswara Swamy, which is a symbol of devotees’ faith, is an extremely serious crime. Those responsible for this crime must be punished. The coalition government will certainly punish the culprits in this case,” clarified Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. He said that a planned conspiracy took place to defile Srivari prasadam.
He said that if attacks on Hindu Dharma are not condemned openly beyond language, caste, and regions, such chains will continue. He spoke on February 24 in the Legislative Assembly during the discussion on the adulterated ghee issue in Tirumala laddu.
On this occasion, he stated that while the National Dairy Development Board report said animal fat was mixed in the ghee, the SIT investigation led by the CBI found that there was actually no ghee at all in it. Clear evidence was found that it was prepared by mixing palm oil and other chemicals… this amounts to defiling Srivari prasadam, he said.
He added that the credit for introducing new “innovations” even in wrongdoing goes to the previous rulers, who demonstrated that ghee could be made using chemicals instead of milk. He said the responsibility for what happened lies with the previous TTD governing board, and an important person in the previous government who is defending them must also take responsibility.
హిందూ ధర్మంపై దాడి జరిగితే ముక్త కంఠంతో ఖండించాలి
•భాష, కులం, ప్రాంతాలకు అతీతంగా ఖండించకపోతే ఆ పరంపర ఆగదు
•శ్రీవారి ప్రసాదాన్ని అపవిత్రం చేసేందుకు ప్రణాళికబద్ధంగా కుట్ర చేశారు
•నెయ్యిలో జంతువుల కొవ్వు కలిసిందని ఎన్.డి.డి.బి. రిపోర్టు చెప్పింది
•నెయ్యిలో నెయ్యే లేదని సిట్… pic.twitter.com/2FYIdUWZ4P— Deputy CMO, Andhra Pradesh (@APDeputyCMO) February 24, 2026
Pawan Kalyan said, “The SIT investigation revealed that 68 lakh kilograms of adulterated ghee were used for preparing Srivari laddu during the previous government’s tenure. Soon after the coalition government was formed, during the NDA legislators’ meeting, the Chief Minister mentioned the adulterated ghee issue while explaining the excesses of the previous government. I also read the National Dairy Development Board report at that time. Devotees had already complained on several occasions about the poor quality of laddus. We thought political allegations should not be made in such a sensitive matter. Even when attacks on temples occurred during their rule, we asked that the culprits be caught.
However, since the previous rulers kept saying that no adulteration happened at all, I felt the need to explain the matter. Even during my earlier visits to Tirumala, many people brought the prasadam quality issue to my notice. Knowing a mistake had occurred, I undertook a vow out of remorse that it should be taken forward properly.
When the NDDB report said animal fats were present in the ghee, I tweeted the same. At that time, I felt it would be good to set up a Sanatana Dharma Protection Board for temple protection. In the recent Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said that there was no ghee at all in that ghee.
The previous governing board is accountable for the mistake
I state in this House that I never said anywhere that individuals of the previous government committed this. The responsibility lies with the previous TTD governing board. I said those appointed by the previous government are accountable for their mistake.
Anyone should call for an impartial committee to punish those responsible. But I do not understand why they are defending them. Why waste so much Assembly time on Tirupati laddu? Adulteration happened — take action, and those at fault will be punished. Saying no adulteration or animal fat existed led to this long debate.
Rules changed… contracts given to preferred firms
The SIT led by the CBI, which investigated the case of adulterated ghee used in Tirumala laddu preparation, concluded that not even one litre of milk was used to make that ghee. It said it was prepared by mixing chemicals in palm oil. The charge sheet noted that they did not have the technology to determine from which elements those chemicals were derived. It named 36 accused in the case.
The SIT said a planned conspiracy took place to defile Srivari prasadam. Tender rules were revised as part of a plan to award ghee supply contracts to preferred firms. The minimum annual turnover requirement was reduced from ₹250 crore to ₹150 crore.
The condition of collecting four lakh litres of milk per day was removed. The requirement of three years’ experience in the dairy sector was reduced to one year. The condition of producing 12 tonnes of butter per day was reduced to eight tonnes.
Adulterated ghee laddus distributed to 11 crore people
After the revisions, the selected firms supplied ghee between 2020–2023. The SIT charge sheet said the supplying firm did not meet minimum qualifications. The Bhole Baba–linked firms Mall Ganga and Vaishnavi Dairies did not produce even one litre of ghee from milk.
Between 2019–2024, about 11 crore devotees visited Srivari, and 48.76 crore laddus were sold during that period.
TTD records say around 20.10 crore laddus were made with fake ghee. Prasadam filled with chemicals was sold to those 11 crore people.
From these, one lakh laddus were distributed during the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration.
Yet they say those laddus were not made with adulterated ghee.
The SIT report said chemicals were present in the ghee — what those chemicals contain, no one knows.
If such a thing happened to any other religion, the whole country would have erupted. In our country, every Hindu visits dargahs. Respecting all faiths is our cultural foundation.
They defiled the prasadam offered to Shri Venkateswara Swamy, the visible deity of Kaliyuga, and still say nothing wrong happened.
If this had happened in Islam or Christianity, the situation would not be like this. There must be a change in the tendency that speaking about other religions costs votes while speaking about Hindus is easy.
Those who collect for the king should not serve Bhagwan
Recalling the 218th verse of Amuktamalyada by Sri Krishnadevaraya, he reminded the caution on whom to appoint in Bhagwan’s service.
Do not give temple authority to those who collect for the king. Such people, driven by greed, will divert Bhagwan’s wealth to the king’s treasury whenever there is loss in state collections. That is wrong; therefore only a detached person should be the temple authority. Even if they consume Bhagwan’s wealth, they themselves will face destruction for that sin. Bringing that money to the king will destroy the kingdom, says the verse. This is how things happened during the previous government’s rule. Devotees offer their earnings at Tirumala — generations of those who steal Bhagwan’s money will perish. The longer they drag this case, the more their sin will grow,” he said.
