Amaravati, February 3: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to form a committee to identify the masterminds behind the alleged adulteration of Tirupati temple laddu. The decision came during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Finance Minister Sri Payyavula Keshav confirmed that the Cabinet reviewed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, which highlighted serious irregularities in the supply of ghee used for the sacred laddu. The government is committed to strict action against those named in the report, including officials responsible for relaxing tender conditions and quality control.

The SIT investigation, supervised by the CBI, found evidence of adulterants such as soybean, fish oil, and beef tallow in the ghee. It also revealed that certain companies submitted fraudulent documents to qualify for contracts.

The Cabinet has decided to implement reforms in the procurement system and strengthen quality control measures to prevent future lapses. The state government has also resolved to establish a short-term committee to complete its investigation and submit a report within a set timeframe.

This decision follows recent criticism by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which demanded apologies from Chief Minister Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for their earlier claims regarding animal fat in the laddu ghee.