The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, the promoter of Sukriti Foods, as part of its money laundering investigation into the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied for the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadam.
Mangla was apprehended by the ED's Hyderabad office on September 17 and subsequently presented before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Visakhapatnam, which ordered his judicial custody.
Allegations of Adulterated Ghee
The ED's investigation alleges that the adulterated ghee, intended for the revered Tirupati Laddu prasadam, was produced using a mix of refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein, and various chemical additives. Specific substances cited by the agency include MG-90, Monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400, and Acetic Acid Ester.
This adulterated product was then reportedly supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) under the guise of Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee.
Scale of the Fraud and Mangla's Role
According to the ED, fraudulent supplies of ghee to TTD between 2019 and 2024 are estimated to be worth approximately ₹230 crore. Of this substantial amount, the agency claims that around ₹96 crore worth of adulterated ghee was manufactured by Mangla.
Mangla is described by the ED as a key co-conspirator who allegedly facilitated the procurement of adulterants and oversaw the manufacturing of the substandard ghee at his factory premises. He is also accused of coordinating the supply of this adulterated product through several front entities, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products, and A.R. Dairy Foods.
Furthermore, the ED alleges that Mangla created and maintained false records concerning the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil. This was purportedly done to conceal the actual use of adulterants and to create a false impression of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee.
Ongoing Investigation
This arrest is part of a broader conspiracy investigation into the supply of adulterated ghee to TTD. The ED had previously arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk, on similar allegations related to the case. The Tirupati Laddu controversy has previously raised significant concerns regarding the quality and composition of ghee used in the preparation of the famous prasadam, a sacred offering.