The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 129.85 crore belonging to dairy firms, their promoters and related entities in the alleged Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case, adding to the financial action already taken in the investigation.
According to the ED, the attached assets are linked to Bhole Baba Oroganic Dairymilk Pvt Ltd, Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt Ltd, their promoters Vipin Jain and Pomil Jain and their family members, as well as Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd, its promoter Kailash Chand Mangla and related persons.
The agency said its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act found that adulterated ghee worth Rs 234.5 crore was allegedly supplied to TTD, either directly or through front dairies. The ghee was allegedly manufactured by blending refined palm oil, palm kernel oil and palmolein with chemicals, while the materials were invoiced as edible oils, the ED said.
The alleged transactions were recorded in a way that projected the appearance of genuine dairy operations, according to the agency. Investigators found what they described as fictitious milk and ghee purchases, bogus palm oil sales and false by-product transactions. Payments against the alleged fictitious purchases were reportedly returned in cash through hawala channels and used to finance the transactions and pay commissions.
The case follows an FIR registered at Tirupati East Police Station, which alleges criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption in the supply of adulterated ghee intended for preparing the sacred Lord Venkateswara Laddu Prasadam. The allegations concern the procurement and supply chain serving TTD, one of the country’s most prominent religious institutions.
The ED had earlier conducted searches at 16 premises across six States and seized or frozen cash and bank balances worth Rs 2.7 crore. The agency subsequently arrested Vipin Jain and Kailash Chand Mangla for their alleged roles in the conspiracy. The arrests and asset action form part of the investigation under the anti-money-laundering law.
With the latest provisional attachment, the total value of assets attached, seized or frozen in the case has reached Rs 132.55 crore, the ED said. The agency’s action is provisional and follows allegations that remain subject to the legal process. Further investigation is continuing.
