ED arrests Kailash Chand Mangla in TTD ghee adulteration case
Synopsis
The ED's second arrest in the TTD ghee scandal — Kailash Chand Mangla of Sukriti Foods, linked to ₹96 crore of allegedly adulterated ghee — signals a deepening money-laundering probe into a ₹230 crore fraud that compromised sacred rituals at one of the world's busiest pilgrimage sites.
Key Takeaways
Kailash Chand Mangla , promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt.
Ltd. , was arrested by the ED on 18 September 2026 under the PMLA, 2002 .
He has been remanded to judicial custody by the Special Court (PMLA), Visakhapatnam .
Alleged fraudulent ghee supplies to TTD between 2019 and 2024 were valued at ₹230 crore ; Mangla's share was approximately ₹96 crore .
Adulterated ghee was allegedly made with refined palm oil , palm kernel oil , and chemicals, then passed off as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee .
This is the second arrest in the case; Vipin Jain of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt.
Ltd. was arrested earlier.
Further investigation, including potential asset attachments, is ongoing.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, on Thursday, 18 September 2026, arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt. Ltd., in connection with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case. He was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and subsequently produced before the Special Court (PMLA), Visakhapatnam, which remanded him to judicial custody.
Background of the Investigation
The ED launched its probe on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered at Tirupati East Police Station, which alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and corruption linked to the fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to TTD. The case centres on ghee purportedly supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee but allegedly manufactured using inferior substitutes.
Investigators found that the adulterated product was reportedly prepared using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein, and a range of chemicals including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400, and acetic acid ester — none of which are permissible in certified cow ghee.
Scale of the Alleged Fraud
According to the ED, fraudulent ghee supplies to TTD between 2019 and 2024 were valued at approximately ₹230 crore. Of this, ghee worth roughly ₹96 crore was allegedly manufactured at Mangla's factory premises. He is accused of procuring adulterants, overseeing production, and coordinating distribution through a web of front entities.
The front companies allegedly used include Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt. Ltd., Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt. Ltd., and A.R. Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd. Investigators allege that Mangla also fabricated records relating to ghee and refined palm oil transactions to conceal actual adulterant use and make the supply appear legitimate.
Earlier Arrest and Widening Probe
This is not the first arrest in the case. The ED had earlier detained Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt. Ltd., who is alleged to have been the mastermind behind the scheme — orchestrating both the manufacture and fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to TTD. Mangla is now named a co-conspirator alongside Jain.
Notably, TTD administers the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, one of the most visited religious sites in the world, where ghee is used in large quantities for sacred rituals including the preparation of Tirupati laddus. The alleged adulteration therefore carries profound religious and public-health significance beyond its financial dimension.
What Happens Next
The ED confirmed that further investigation is in progress, indicating that more arrests or asset attachments may follow. The special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam will determine the length of Mangla's judicial custody, and investigators are expected to trace money-laundering proceeds linked to the alleged ₹230 crore fraud.
Point of View
Which indicates an organised operation rather than opportunistic adulteration. The ₹230 crore figure and the five-year timeline (2019–2024) raise questions about oversight mechanisms within TTD itself — particularly why quality checks failed to flag the chemical composition of incoming ghee. With the Tirupati temple's religious sanctity at stake, public and political pressure on investigators to deliver a full accounting of all conspirators will be substantial.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kailash Chand Mangla and why was he arrested?
Kailash Chand Mangla is the promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt. Ltd. and was arrested by the ED on 18 September 2026 for his alleged role in supplying adulterated ghee to TTD, worth approximately ₹96 crore, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. He is accused of procuring adulterants, manufacturing fake ghee, and routing it through front companies.
What is the TTD ghee adulteration case?
The TTD ghee adulteration case involves the alleged fraudulent supply of ghee made from refined palm oil and chemicals — passed off as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee — to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams between 2019 and 2024, with the total fraud valued at around ₹230 crore. The case was first registered at Tirupati East Police Station on charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery.
Who was arrested before Mangla in this case?
Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt. Ltd., was arrested earlier by the ED and is alleged to have masterminded the manufacture and supply of adulterated ghee to TTD. Mangla is named a co-conspirator alongside Jain.
What adulterants were allegedly used in the fake ghee?
According to the ED, the adulterated ghee was reportedly manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein, and chemicals including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400, and acetic acid ester, none of which are permissible in certified cow ghee.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED has confirmed that further investigation is in progress, suggesting more arrests or asset attachment orders could follow. Mangla remains in judicial custody, and the special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam will oversee proceedings as investigators continue to trace money-laundering proceeds from the alleged ₹230 crore fraud.
