Tirupati Laddu scandal
The controversy surrounding the alleged adulteration of ghee used in Tirupati's sacred laddus has taken a new turn with a surprise raid in Uttarakhand. A joint team of food safety officials from Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand swooped down on a ghee manufacturing company in Bhagwanpur, Roorkee, deepening the investigation into this sensitive matter that has sparked outrage among devotees.
The ghee in question, which was used to prepare the revered laddu prasadam at the Tirupati Balaji Temple, was sourced from this Uttarakhand-based company. Authorities have sealed the company's premises, barring entry until further notice, as investigations continue.
The controversy erupted after allegations surfaced that the ghee used in the laddus contained adulterants, including animal fat such and fish oil. This shocking discovery triggered widespread condemnation and prompted a high-level investigation, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple's governing body, had blacklisted the supplier and switched to the Karnataka Milk Federation for future ghee procurement. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of foreign fats in the ghee, further fueling the controversy and raising concerns about the sanctity of the temple's offerings. The probe has found that the ghee used in the temple's prasad laddus was being manufactured by a company based in Chauli Shahabuddinpur, Bhagwanpur, Uttarakhand. Food safety officials have collected samples of ghee, milk, and other materials from the company, and a thorough examination of documents is underway.
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