Tirupati Board used to buy ghee at just Rs 320 per kg, now it has cancelled the tender and entered into an agreement with Nandini brand at this price – Tirupati Board used to buy ghee at just Rs 320 per kg, now Nandini supplies ghee NTC

The issue of adulteration of ghee in laddus at the world famous Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh has become increasingly intense. Investigations revealed that AR Dairy was awarded the contract to supply ghee at Rs 320 per kg while the tender for Nandini ghee was cancelled. Later in July, the contract was again awarded to Nandini ghee at Rs 470 per kg due to the discovery of adulteration in the ghee.

Citing a report, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that instead of ghee, fish oil and animal fat were mixed in the prasad of Balaji temple during the previous Jaganmohan Reddy government. Jaganmohan said the claims were false and Naidu was playing politics in the name of God.

Violation of regulations during the bidding process
Aaj Tak received a copy of the ghee tender, which raised questions about the procurement process. According to sources, the tender conditions were violated and the ghee was not sent for testing. As per clause 80 of the tender, a NABL certificate had to be submitted for each batch of ghee supplied.

Also read: Tirupati Laddu controversy: Purchase of ghee violated contractual provisions, company did not give NABL certificate, is TTD also grossly negligent?

Apart from this, as per clause 81 of the tender, ghee samples had to be sent to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for lab testing. Questions were raised as to why this adulteration was not detected in earlier samples from blacklisted companies between August 2023 and July 2024? Didn’t TTD send samples for NABL/lab testing? Didn’t the blacklisted companies produce NABL certificates for the adulterated batches?

TTD EO says – Rs 320/kg price is unfair

TTD EO Rao said, “Reports from all four samples showed similar findings. So, we have stopped the supply with immediate effect. Process to blacklist the contractor has been initiated and penalty proceedings will also be initiated. Legal proceedings will now begin.” The reason for the inadequate quality was lack of in-house labs, sending samples to external labs for testing and unavailability of reasonable prices.”

He said that suppliers took advantage of these shortcomings and supplied ghee between Rs 320 and Rs 411. He said that this price range was not suitable for the supply of pure cow ghee.

Nada said – investigation will be completed
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday said he had spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and sought a report on the Tirupati laddu issue. Nadda said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

Also read: ‘This cannot be tolerated…’, Union Minister demands CBI probe into Tirupati Laddu controversy, says – No need for secrecy now

TDP’s claims
Earlier, Telugu Desam Party spokesperson Anand Venkata Raman Reddy, while speaking to the media, showed a so-called lab report confirming the presence of “beef fat” in the ghee sample provided. The lab report showed that the sample contained “lard”. It also claimed the presence of lard (related to pork fat) and fish oil.

The sample collection date is July 9, 2024, and the lab report date is July 16. However, there has been no official confirmation of the lab report from the Andhra Pradesh government or the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswaraswamy temple.