Probe Committee Finds Lapses In Ghee Procurement For Tirupati Laddu

The Naidu government indicated that firm action is likely, continuing to blame the previous YS Jaganmohan Reddy government for TTD ghee adulteration.

The inquiry found lapses in ghee procurement for Tirupati Laddu due to administrative failures and weak enforcement of rules. The report says procurement rules were framed and implemented in ways that allowed irregularities, with the procurement committee relaxing norms without full committee presence. It names specific members who influenced decisions and notes the absence of the procurement general manager, weakening due process. It also states that rules were not strictly enforced: bidders could reduce prices after reverse auctions, and abnormally low bids were accepted without adequate scrutiny. Earlier lab reports had confirmed adulteration, but action was delayed. The findings attribute gaps in oversight and relaxed norms as contributing to adulteration.

The Chandrababu Naidu government constituted a one-man committee headed by retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar to examine administrative lapses, assess procedural compliance in tender relaxations and enforcement, and identify the extent of responsibility of officials. The committee was granted 45 days to submit its report.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a chargesheet in the ghee procurement case and the SIT also submitted a Self-Contained Note recommending suitable action against certain committee members and senior Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officers.