Pawan Kalyan Clarifies Laddu Adulteration Blame on Previous TTD Board

The Tirumala Laddu Adulteration Controversy continues to stir political and religious sentiments in Andhra Pradesh. On Tuesday, during a discussion in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan addressed the long-standing issue of alleged adulteration in the ghee used for preparing the sacred Tirumala laddus, the prasadam distributed at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

Pawan Kalyan clarified his earlier statements on the matter, emphasizing that he had never directly blamed former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy personally for the adulteration. Instead, he held the previous TTD board, appointed during the YSRCP regime, fully responsible for the lapses in oversight and procurement that allowed substandard or adulterated ghee to be supplied.

The scandal first erupted in September 2024, when laboratory tests on ghee samples supplied to TTD revealed the presence of palm oil, synthetic fats, and other non-dairy adulterants, deviating from the required pure cow ghee standards for the prasadam. This raised widespread outrage among devotees, as the laddu holds profound religious significance as an offering to Lord Venkateswara.

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The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), later involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In January 2026, the CBI-led SIT filed a chargesheet against 36 individuals, including suppliers from companies like Bhole Baba Organic Dairy and certain TTD procurement officials. The chargesheet highlighted large-scale supply of synthetic or fake ghee—often blended with palm oil, palmolein, and chemicals—resulting in massive corruption and misappropriation of temple funds estimated in crores. While the report ruled out direct animal fats (such as beef tallow or lard) in the final findings, it confirmed the ghee was not authentic cow ghee but a chemically processed substitute, fueling ongoing debates.

Pawan Kalyan reiterated during the assembly session that the responsibility lies with the administrative and governing bodies under the previous regime, which failed to ensure sanctity and quality in the prasadam preparation. He stressed the moral accountability at higher levels for overseeing TTD operations.

Amid the back-and-forth accusations, Pawan Kalyan appealed to Hindus to rise above caste divisions and unite in defending their faith. He noted that issues affecting religious sentiments often lead to strong solidarity in other communities, urging similar cohesion among Hindus to protect Sanatana Dharma traditions.

The YSRCP has countered these narratives, labeling them as political diversions by the NDA government to deflect from governance issues. Party leaders have pointed to the CBI chargesheet’s absence of animal fat evidence as vindication and accused the ruling coalition of politicizing a sacred matter for electoral gains.

The controversy, now over a year old, remains a flashpoint in Andhra Pradesh politics, blending religious sensitivities with allegations of corruption in temple administration. The case has entered the trial stage, with ongoing administrative inquiries into procurement lapses during the relevant period.

For devotees and observers, the core concern endures: safeguarding the purity of the Tirumala laddu prasadam, a symbol of devotion for millions.