Tirumala ghee fraud: ED raids 15 sites, seizes ₹60 lakh cash
Synopsis
The ED's 15-location sweep in the TTD ghee adulteration case has moved the probe from temple kitchens to dairy plants and shell entities across eight cities. With ₹60 lakh in cash seized and ₹45 crore in suspect property investments uncovered, the money trail behind the Tirupati laddu scandal is finally surfacing — and it runs through Dindigul, Ahilyanagar and Roorkee.
Key Takeaways
The ED conducted searches at 15 locations on 3 June in the TTD ghee adulteration case. ₹60 lakh in cash was seized during the operation.
Investments in properties worth over ₹45 crore were linked to proceeds of crime.
Dairy plants of A.R.
Dairy Food , Malganga Milk & Agro and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy were searched.
The probe is being conducted under the PMLA, 2002 , based on an FIR against A.R.
Nine named individuals across eight cities are under the scanner.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, on Wednesday, 3 June, carried out simultaneous search operations at 15 locations across multiple states in connection with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case, seizing ₹60 lakh in cash and uncovering investments worth over ₹45 crore allegedly linked to proceeds of crime.
Where the raids took place
According to an ED release, the searches spanned Ahilyanagar, Bikaner, Dehradun, Delhi, Dindigul, Guntur, Mumbai and Roorkee. Officials covered both residential and office premises of Pomil Jain, Vipin Jain, Raju Rajasekaran, Rajesh Mansukhlal Chavda, Apurva Vinaykanth Chavda, Machindra Shantaram Lanke, Ajay Kumar Sugandh, Mahesh Kumar Rohira and Ashish Agarwal.
Dairy plants under scanner
The action extended to the dairy facilities of A.R. Dairy Food Pvt. Ltd., Dindigul; Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt. Ltd., Ahilyanagar; and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt. Ltd., Roorkee. Investigators reportedly seized incriminating documents pointing to a complex web of legal entities used to facilitate bogus sale and purchase transactions, allegedly to conceal and layer proceeds of crime.
What the ED found
Apart from the ₹60 lakh cash haul, the searches led to disclosures of investments in properties valued at more than ₹45 crore, along with details of several immovable assets held in the names of the accused and their family members. The probe was initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on the basis of an FIR registered against A.R. Dairy Food Pvt. Ltd. and others.
The allegations
It is alleged that the accused, in conspiracy with certain TTD officials, committed criminal breach of trust, cheating, and caused wrongful loss to the temple body by supplying adulterated ghee used in the preparation of the famed Tirupati laddu. According to the ED, illicit gains generated through these supplies were subsequently routed into immovable properties via interconnected business concerns to mask their origin.
What's next
The central agency said further investigation is in progress, with additional seizures and attachments likely as the money trail is mapped. The case has political resonance in Andhra Pradesh, where ghee adulteration in laddu prasadam has been a flashpoint since allegations surfaced last year.
Point of View
But the ED's 15-city sweep reframes it as a structured financial fraud — complete with shell entities, layered transactions and real-estate parking of proceeds. The ₹45 crore property trail suggests the alleged adulteration wasn't an isolated supply lapse but a sustained operation. The harder question is institutional: how did substandard ghee clear TTD's procurement checks for so long, and which insiders enabled it? Until the agency names the TTD officials allegedly in conspiracy, accountability remains half-done.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TTD ghee adulteration case?
It is a fraud case in which suppliers allegedly conspired with certain Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials to supply adulterated ghee, causing wrongful loss to the temple body. The ED is investigating the money trail under the PMLA, 2002, based on an FIR against A.R. Dairy Food Pvt. Ltd. and others.
How much cash and assets did the ED uncover?
The ED seized ₹60 lakh in cash during the 3 June searches and uncovered disclosures of investments worth more than ₹45 crore in immovable properties allegedly linked to proceeds of crime. Several other properties held in the names of the accused and their family members were also identified.
Which dairy companies were searched?
The ED searched the dairy plants of A.R. Dairy Food Pvt. Ltd. in Dindigul, Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. in Ahilyanagar, and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt. Ltd. in Roorkee. Documents indicating bogus sale and purchase transactions were reportedly recovered.
Where were the 15 search locations?
The searches spanned Ahilyanagar, Bikaner, Dehradun, Delhi, Dindigul, Guntur, Mumbai and Roorkee, covering both residential and office premises of nine named individuals.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED has said further investigation is in progress, with the money trail being mapped through a network of interconnected legal entities. Additional seizures, property attachments and potential arrests are likely as the probe advances.
