SIT Files Final Chargesheet in Tirupati Laddoo Case: No Animal Fat Found

Amaravati: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed its final chargesheet in the Tirupati laddoo controversy, stating that no animal fat was used in the famous Tirupati laddoos. The report has sparked political reactions, with the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) targeting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, accusing them of playing with the religious sentiments of Hindus and demanding an apology.

SIT Files Chargesheet After 15-Month Probe
After a 15-month-long investigation, the SIT submitted its chargesheet to the Anti-Corruption Bureau Court in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Y.V. Subba Reddy alleged that the Chief Minister had misled the public regarding the use of animal fat in laddoo preparation.

The chargesheet clarifies that while the ghee used in the laddoos between 2019 and 2024 contained palm oil, palm kernel oil, and chemical additives, there was no mention of animal fat.

36 Accused Named in Chargesheet
The SIT has named 36 individuals as accused in the case, including Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, directors of Bholenath Organic Dairy in Uttarakhand, who have been identified as the main masterminds behind the operation. The YSRCP has alleged that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) falsely convinced the public that animal fat had been used, while the TDP has distanced itself from the controversy.

Allegations of Commercializing Tirumala
TDP spokesperson Jyotsna Tirunagari told the Economic Times that the SIT report confirms that the ghee used from 2019 to 2024 was adulterated. The report noted that not even a drop of milk was used in producing the ghee. During this period, approximately 1.61 crore kilograms of ghee were procured, of which 60 lakh kilograms were adulterated — enough to make around 20 crore laddoos. Tirunagari alleged that the YSRCP politicized the matter, exploiting Hindu religious sentiments, and attempted to turn Tirumala into a commercial venture.