Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of the famous Tirupati laddus. It was claimed that the ghee used contained “beef tallow, lard (pig fat), and fish oil,” and Singh stressed that those responsible “should be hanged” rather than merely punished for adulteration.
In Mysuru, Karnataka, Singh voiced his concerns, reportedly urging for a CBI inquiry to determine how and why adulterated ghee was used. The incident, he noted, involved ₹20,000 crores, and he criticized the previous Andhra Pradesh government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for not sourcing the ghee from Shreeja, a women-owned organization.
Singh’s remarks triggered a political storm nationwide. His statement came after the current Andhra Pradesh government, under N Chandrababu Naidu, alleged that a lab report from Gujarat confirmed the use of animal fat in the ghee used for preparing the laddus. The Tirupati laddu, a sacred offering at the Lord Venkateshwara temple, was allegedly found to be adulterated during the YSRCP government’s tenure.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy presented the alleged lab report in a press conference, providing evidence that the ghee samples, supplied by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), had been compromised.