The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has decided to entrust the alleged case of adulteration of ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to a Commission of Enquiry to identify the actual masterminds behind the controversy.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, discussed the issue in detail. The Cabinet examined the report submitted by the Special Investigation Team, during which several shortcomings in the findings were flagged. It was subsequently resolved that the Commission of Enquiry would address the gaps in the SIT report and conduct a comprehensive probe into the procurement process, tender conditions and administrative lapses linked to the alleged mixing of chemical substances in the ghee.
During the meeting, Ministers informed the Chief Minister that former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, who was not a member of the purchase committee at the time, was reportedly invited as a special invitee, while committee members including then Minister Kolusu Parthasarathi and Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy were not invited.
Officials also informed the Cabinet that laddus allegedly prepared using adulterated ghee were even sent to Ayodhya. The Cabinet discussed changes made to tender conditions and questioned why the then Executive Officer, Anil Kumar Singhal, did not raise objections despite modifications to procurement norms. Ministers also raised concerns that tenders were allegedly secured using fake documents. It was pointed out that a CFTRI report in 2022 had indicated ghee adulteration, but the findings were allegedly ignored by officials at the time.
