ED Arrests Ghee Firm Promoter in Tirupati Laddu Case
Agency alleges adulterated ghee worth ₹96 crore was manufactured using palm oil and chemicals
- Mangla was arrested by the ED’s Hyderabad office on September 17.
- The agency alleges adulterated ghee worth ₹96 crore was manufactured by his company.
- The alleged adulteration involved palm oil, palmolein and various chemicals.
- A special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam sent Mangla to judicial custody.
GG News Bureau
VISAKHAPATNAM, 19th Sept: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Sukriti Foods promoter Kailash Chand Mangla in connection with the alleged adulteration of ghee used to prepare Tirupati Laddu prasadam, the agency said on Friday.
According to the ED, Mangla was arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). He was produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Visakhapatnam, which remanded him to judicial custody.
The agency alleged that adulterated ghee used in preparing Tirupati Laddu prasadam was manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and chemicals including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester.
The ED claimed that the adulterated product was subsequently supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee for TTD. According to the agency, fraudulent ghee supplies to TTD during 2019-2024 were valued at around ₹230 crore, of which ₹96 crore was allegedly manufactured by Mangla.
The agency alleged that Mangla was among the co-conspirators and facilitated the procurement of adulterants and manufacture of adulterated ghee at his factory premises.
The ED further alleged that he coordinated supplies through entities including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products and A.R. Dairy Foods.
The agency also accused Mangla of creating and maintaining false records concerning the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil to conceal the alleged use of adulterants and present the supplies as genuine cow ghee.
The ED said it had earlier arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, in connection with similar allegations.
