The ghee keeping Andhra on the boil

The alleged adulteration of ghee used for the Tirumala laddu prasadam has been a contentious issue for over a year. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the YSRCP have both engaged in political maneuvering surrounding the controversy, which was investigated by a Special Investigation Team (STI) headed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The STI's final supplementary charge sheet revealed that the ghee supplied was not genuine but a concoction made with palm oil, synthetic substances, and chemicals. The investigation concluded that several private dairies colluded with officials to supply this adulterated product, highlighting corruption and breach of trust within the TTD procurement system.