Government Committed to Protecting TTD Sanctity: Payyavula Keshav

State Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav on Tuesday said protecting the sanctity of Tirumala , the abode of Sri Venkateswara Swamy , is the State government’s foremost responsibility. He said the government is taking the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the Srivari laddu prasadam seriously and warned that those responsible would face strict action.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat, the Minister said the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , set aside its scheduled agenda to discuss the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case . The Cabinet deliberated for nearly three hours on an 11-page confidential report submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed under CBI supervision , following Supreme Court directions.

The report, he said, pointed to irregularities in the ghee procurement process during the previous government’s tenure. Tender norms were allegedly relaxed after 2019 , with the turnover requirement reduced from ₹250 crore to ₹150 crore , enabling firms with limited experience to participate and leading to the supply of about 58 lakh litres of adulterated ghee .

Tests by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) reportedly detected vegetable oils, animal fat, and fish oil in the ghee, causing concern among devotees.

The SIT report also mentioned the role of former senior officials A.V. Dharma Reddy, Anil Kumar Singhal, and O. Balaji . Despite warnings from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in 2022 , corrective action was allegedly not taken. The Cabinet has decided to appoint a short-term administrative committee to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and submit a report.

Ministers Kollu Parthasarathy and Nadendla Manohar said the issue should not be politicised, as it concerns the faith of millions. Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav said the government is committed to restoring purity and accountability.