Amaravati, January 30, 2026: A CBI-led Special Investigation Team has concluded its probe into ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Tests from national labs showed no traces of animal fat, such as lard or tallow, in the samples.
Instead, the ghee was largely a synthetic mix of refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palmolein, with added chemicals to mimic real ghee's aroma and properties. No actual milk or cow ghee was used in much of the supply from 2019 to 2024.
The investigation revealed nearly 68 lakh kg of adulterated product reached TTD, valued at over ₹230 crore. It pointed to lapses in tender processes, collusion among suppliers and officials, and manipulation to bypass quality checks.
