Tirupati Laddu ghee controversy: Y.V. Subba Reddy counters Chandrababu’s allegations

The dispute over the purity of the ghee used in Tirupati’s iconic laddu prasadam is growing more heated by the day. Former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy, who has come under fire over allegations of adulteration, addressed the media on Thursday, firmly rejecting the accusations and demanding that the government make all certified laboratory reports public.

Subba Reddy said that a sacred institution with millions of devotees across the world is being dragged into political battles. According to him, unverified claims are being circulated that the TTD used adulterated ghee, even though the SIT investigation is still underway. He alleged that selective leaks and speculative narratives are being fed to the media without any scientific backing, damaging the temple’s reputation and misleading devotees. He questioned whether the ghee tankers that arrived in June were ever used in laddu preparation and whether any laboratory had confirmed the presence of animal fat, noting that there has been no official explanation.

Defending his tenure as TTD chairman, Subba Reddy said that the TTD strengthened its ghee-testing laboratory with an investment of ₹80 lakh and also took consultancy from National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) experts. He added that his administration removed L1, L2, and VIP break darshan categories, enforced a complete plastic ban on Tirumala, expanded goshalas across the state, and used ghee produced in the TTD’s own goushala for temple offerings. He also said the SRIVANI Trust was established to eliminate middlemen and that a detailed white paper on TTD assets was made public during his leadership.

Subba Reddy accused Chandrababu Naidu’s earlier government of violating norms by depositing TTD funds in private banks. He said that once the new government took office, those funds were withdrawn and moved to public-sector banks, and that the private bank in question collapsed soon afterward. He noted that his administration did not politicize the matter at the time because it concerned the reputation of TTD.

Turning to the current government, he said its mismanagement and lack of planning had led to the tragic stampede during Vaikuntha Ekadashi token distribution, claiming six lives. He argued that such a government has no moral right to lecture others about devotion or responsibility.

Reiterating his demand for transparency, Subba Reddy insisted that if certified lab reports exist, they must be released immediately. He questioned why the government is sending contradictory messages, pointing out that the TTD Executive Officer spoke of vegetable fat while Chandrababu insisted there was animal fat. He said there is still no confirmation of what is true, nor any clarity on whether the suspected ghee tankers were used in laddu preparation. He also questioned why the SIT probe has been restricted only to the 2019-2024 period and demanded that the investigation be extended to cover ghee supplies during Chandrababu Naidu’s previous tenure. Referring to reports that the SIT had noted ghee tankers rejected in July 2025 but later allowed in August, he urged the authorities to make those findings public.