In a key development in the Tirupati Laddu adulteration case, the special investigation team (SIT) led by the CBI has arrested four people. The case is connected to the alleged adulteration in the laddus offered as prasadam to devotees at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
Those arrested have been identified as Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain, former directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, Apoorva Chawda from Vaishnavi Dairy and Raju Rajasekharan from AR Dairy.
On Sunday night, an official confirmed, “Four people have been arrested. Two persons (Bipin Jain and Pomi Jain) were of Bhole Baba Dairy, Apoorva Chawda of Vaihsnavi Dairy and (Raju) Rajasekharan of AR Dairy.”
As per the sources, the SIT investigation has revealed serious violations at every step of the ghee supply, leading to the arrests. The officials revealed that Vaishnavi Dairy officials secured tenders under the name of AR Dairy to supply ghee to the temple and were also involved in creating fake records to manipulate the tender process.
The SIT unearthed that Vaishnavi Dairy had falsely claimed that it sourced ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy while the authorities noticed that the latter did not possess the capacity to meet the temple board Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s demand.
Officials found that Vaishnavi Dairy created false documents and seals to manipulate the tender process. Fake records indicated ghee procurement from Bhole Baba Dairy, which did not have the capacity to supply the required quantities.
According to the sources, the accused will be presented before the Tirupati court tomorrow. Special Investigation Team (SIT) member and CBI Joint Director Viresh Prabhu, who has been in Tirupati to oversee the probe, is expected to be present in court.
In November last year, the CBI set up a five-member SIT on the orders of the Supreme Court to probe the allegations of the use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus. The team comprised two officers from the central agency, two from Andhra Pradesh Police and one from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), they said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had alleged in September that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime in the state, sparking a massive political row