The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee supply scandal has sent shockwaves through the Hindu devotee community across the world.
The Pricing Anomaly
At the center of this controversy is AR Dairy from Tamil Nadu, which allegedly purchased ghee for ₹355 per kg and sold it to TTD for ₹319.80 per kg. This inexplicable pricing strategy defies basic business logic, immediately raising suspicions about the ghee’s quality and purity.
A Complicated Supply Chain
The journey of the ghee is as puzzling as its pricing:
1. Origin: Bhole Baba Organic Dairy in Uttarakhand
2. First Transit: 2,300 km to Vaishnavi Dairy in Tirupati
3. Second Transit: 500 km to AR Dairy in Tamil Nadu
4. Final Destination: TTD
This unnecessarily long route not only increases transportation costs but also amplifies the risk of adulteration and quality deterioration.
Confirmation of Adulteration
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) laboratory has confirmed the presence of adulterants in the ghee supplied by AR Dairy to TTD. This revelation has vindicated the suspicions of many and raised serious questions about the quality control measures in place at TTD.
Corporate Entanglement
The scandal has exposed a complex network of interconnected companies:
– Bhole Baba Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy share common directors: Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain
– AR Dairy appears to be functioning as an intermediary, despite lacking substantial ghee production capabilities
This complicated corporate structure suggests a potential conspiracy to defraud TTD and, by extension, crores of Hindu devotees.
Suspicious Financial Transactions
The financial aspects of this scandal are equally troubling:
– Vaishnavi Dairy sold ghee to AR Dairy at a loss of ₹36.43 per kg
– AR Dairy then supplied the ghee to TTD with a mere ₹1.23 per kg profit margin
These figures don’t align with normal business practices, hinting at hidden motivations or undisclosed benefits.
Regulatory Violations
The TTD management committee stands accused of bending procurement rules to facilitate this fraudulent supply chain. They allegedly extended the procurement radius from 800 km to 1,500 km, enabling the involvement of distant suppliers like Bhole Baba Dairy.
This scandal has severely shaken the faith of crores of Hindus who visit Tirumala. The adulteration of ghee used in laddu prasadam preparation is seen not just as a health concern, but as a sinful act that undermines the sanctity of the temple itself.
Things to be Investigated
1. TTD’s quality control protocols and their apparent failure
2. The role and potential complicity of the TTD management committee
3. The operations and interconnections of the implicated dairy companies
4. The possibility of similar malpractices in other aspects of temple management
Broader Implications
This scandal serves as a wake-up call for religious institutions across India. It highlights the urgent need for unified board (Santana dharma board)
- Stricter quality control measures in prasadam preparation
- Greater transparency in procurement processes
- Regular audits of suppliers and supply chains
- Enhanced accountability of temple management committees
The Tirumala ghee scandal is more than just a case of adulteration; it’s a breach of trust that strikes at the heart of Hindus religious devotion across the world.
-Sanyogita
