Laddu Lies and Indapur–Heritage trail.. Questions mount on TDP

Despite clear reports from the CBI–SIT, NDDB, and NDRI confirming that there was no animal fat in the ghee used for Tirumala laddu prasadam, Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Lokesh continue to make allegations of adulteration. As the Indapur link began to surface, the trail led to Heritage. Evidence has emerged suggesting that Heritage was supplying ghee to TTD under the cover of Indapur Dairy. After this issue came into the public domain, hurried changes were made on the Heritage website. The Heritage sales manager was reportedly removed, and the links between Sangam Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy also came to light. Yet, the coalition government has not provided answers to the growing list of questions.

With evidence emerging that the supply of adulterated ghee for Tirumala laddu prasadam was the handiwork of a TDP-linked syndicate, Chandrababu Naidu has been left with no credible explanation. Even after the facts surfaced, he attempted to mislead people in the Assembly with evasive statements. Between 2014 and 2019, Indapur Dairy supplied ghee to TTD at about Rs. 278 per kilogram. Now, however, a contract has reportedly been awarded at around Rs. 658 per kilogram, and there has been no explanation for this dramatic price increase. Until recently, Heritage’s website listed Indapur Dairy as a manufacturing unit of Heritage, but after the issue was exposed it was quietly changed to a co-manufacturing unit. There has been no explanation for this change either.

The CBI investigation has already established that ghee tankers sent to TTD were rejected and later reused during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure as Chief Minister. Instead of addressing these findings, attempts are being made to suppress the facts, which has only exposed the alleged adulteration network further. The timeline of events also shows that the alleged adulterated ghee supply occurred after the TDP coalition government came to power in June 2024. Even though the ghee had reportedly failed quality checks, the same consignments were allegedly reused for Tirumala prasadam. Investigations have also revealed business links between the accused Bhole Baba Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy with associates connected to Chandrababu Naidu’s network.

In addition, Vaishnavi Dairy reportedly has business ties with Sangam Dairy, whose chairman is senior TDP MLA Dhulipalla Narendra. The same Sangam Dairy was reportedly awarded a contract to supply five lakh kilograms of ghee to TTD. Documents of the TTD governing body suggest that the entire arrangement may have been a planned scheme to facilitate the adulteration racket. Despite these serious developments, coalition leaders have failed to answer several key questions:

1. Why was Indapur Dairy initially listed as a manufacturing unit on the Heritage website, and why was it changed to co-manufacturing unit after YSRCP raised the issue?
2. Why was the Heritage sales head replaced soon after the issue came into public view?
3. The government repeatedly spoke about Nandini Dairy supplying ghee. Why are orders not being given to Nandini Dairy now, and why is it no longer supplying?
4. Between 2014–19 and 2019–24, the average price of ghee was around Rs. 350 per kilogram. How did the price suddenly rise to Rs. 658 per kilogram now?
5. The same ghee supplied by Indapur is available in the open market today for around Rs. 519 per kilogram, including packaging, transportation, and dealer commissions. If it is supplied directly to Tirumala in bulk tankers without these costs, shouldn’t the price be lower? Why has it not decreased?
6. If the quality specifications for ghee remain the same as during the previous government, why has the procurement price increased to Rs. 658 per kilogram under the coalition government?
7. What are the business links between Vaishnavi Dairy and Sangam Dairy? If action was taken against Vaishnavi Dairy, why has similar action not been taken against Sangam Dairy?
8. After the issue surfaced, why were changes made to the Vaishnavi and Sangam Dairy offices, including repainting and removal of visible branding?
9. Premier Dairy, which is named in the CBI–SIT charge sheet, supplied nearly 90% of TTD ghee between 2014 and 2019. If so, why is there no investigation into the ghee supplied during that period?
10. If the ghee supplied between 2014 and 2019 was truly pure, why did the government purchase aroma chemicals to coat laddus during that period?
11. Were the tankers supplied during your tenure or not? If four tankers were rejected for failing quality tests, how did the same tankers re-enter TTD and get used again in August and September 2024 during the coalition government’s tenure? Why were they not stopped, and why are Chandrababu and coalition leaders not taking responsibility?

These questions remain unanswered while the coalition continues its propaganda campaign over the Tirumala laddu issue.