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Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has approved the constitution of a full-fledged judicial inquiry commission. The decision follows the submission of a CBI-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, constituted under the directions of the Supreme Court.
SIT probe to continue in Tirupati Laddu adulteration case
Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday stepped up action in the Tirupati laddu ghee adulteration case, ordering an expanded probe to identify the alleged masterminds behind the scam and ensure strict action against all those responsible.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, during a Cabinet meeting held on Monday, approved the constitution of a full-fledged judicial inquiry commission. The decision follows the submission of a CBI-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, constituted under the directions of the Supreme Court.
SIT Findings and Administrative Action
The SIT, which submitted its report to the state government last week, confirmed instances of ghee adulteration and serious departmental lapses. However, the report primarily recommended action against directly involved individuals, stopping short of identifying higher-level conspirators.
According to the SIT, a total of 36 persons have been named in the chargesheet for their alleged role in supplying substandard ghee used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus.
Based on the findings, the government on Sunday removed Anil Kumar Singhhal, a 1993-batch IAS officer and the then Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), from his post.
Political and Administrative Fallout
The SIT report and Singhhal’s removal have triggered intense political and administrative debate in Andhra Pradesh. The Tirupati laddu is regarded as sacrosanct, symbolising faith, tradition, and the prestige of both the temple administration and the state.
The government noted that the 11-page SIT report highlighted serious irregularities, rule violations, and alleged deliberate misconduct during the period between 2019 and 2024, when the YSR Congress Party was in power under former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Legacy and Scale of Tirupati Laddu
With a history dating back nearly 300 years, the Tirupati laddu is renowned for its distinctive taste and texture and has a shelf life of two to three weeks. The laddu enjoys Geographical Indication (GI) protection and has become inseparable from the Tirupati temple’s identity-whether purchased online or carried home by devotees as a sacred souvenir.
On average, around 5.5 lakh laddus are sold daily.
Temple Operations and Financial Scale
The Tirumala temple receives over 70,000 pilgrims every day, placing immense pressure on the TTD to manage crowds and provide civic amenities. For the 2025-26 financial year, the TTD has approved a budget of approximately Rs5,300 crore, while annual revenue from hundi collections alone stands at about Rs1,700 crore.
Why the Probe Was Expanded
Given the scale of operations, financial magnitude, and the religious significance of the laddu, Chief Minister Naidu has ordered the inquiry to be expanded to ensure that institutional failures and larger conspiracies, if any, are fully exposed and addressed.
Further action is expected once the inquiry commission begins its proceedings.
