The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Wednesday lodged a formal complaint with the police against Tamil Nadu-based dairy firm – A R Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd – for supplying adulterated ghee to the temple in July this year.
TTD general manager (procurement) P Muralikrishna lodged the complaint with the Tirupati town police, which is mandatory to take up a probe by the special investigation team constituted by the Naidu government under the auspices of inspector general of police Sarvashresht Tripathi into the recent allegations of adulteration of ghee used in the making of “laddu.”
In his complaint, Muralikrishna said the TTD had placed an order with A R Dairy Foods on May 15 for supply of 10 lakh kg of ghee to the temple for making of laddu prasadam. The firm supplied four tankers of ghee on June 12, 20 and 25 and on July 6.
“The TTD used this ghee for making of prasadam after conducting the quality testing of this ghee using old methods, but it did not go in for adulteration testing. In view of the various complaints from pilgrims over the lack of quality of laddu, the TTD decided to get the adulteration test done at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB),” Muralikrishna said.
The TTD collected the ghee samples from four tankers supplied by AP Dairy Foods on July 6 and 12 and sent them to NDDB labs for adulteration testing.
“The reports indicated that the ghee samples had tested positive for presence of vegetable and animal fat,” he said in the complaint.
Muralikrishna said show-cause notices were issued to the company on July 22, 23 and 27 seeking an explanation for supplying adulterated ghee, but the company replied on September 4 stating that it had not done any adulteration. Subsequently, the TTD ordered for an inquiry, he said.
