Tirupati Laddu Row: AP High Court Denies Bail To Govt Officer Accused Of Seeking Bribe For Awarding Ghee Tender

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has denied bail to a public servant booked in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) adulterated ghee case, for allegedly demanding commission from ghee suppliers, influencing tender processes and amassing disproportionate assets through suspected hawala routes.The FIR was lodged over allegations on use of adulterated ghee for the preparation of laddus offered as prasadam at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple.The matter pertains to a 2024 FIR registered for various offences under BNS Sections 274 (Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 275(Sale of noxious food or drink), 316(5)(Criminal breach of trust), 318(cheating), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 299(Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief) read with 49 (Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) and 3(5) (common intention) and provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act.Dr. Justice Y. Lakshmana Rao in its order said:"During the Investigation, it is revealed that the petitioner received huge amounts towards bribe from the representatives of ghee supplies. There are several transactions including huge cash deposits in his accounts maintained at State Bank of India andUnion Bank of India. Though his salary during the entire period was around Rs.65 lakhs, there are transactions amounting to about Rs.4.60 crores in his bank account"."The SIT constituted by the Hon'ble Apex Court mandated a deeper probe to uncover the larger conspiracy in the case, as it pertains to the supply of adulterated ghee to TTD, which defiled sentiments of crores of devotees worldwide. Though all the main accused, who supplied ghee to TTD, were enlarged on bail after completion of the statutory period, the investigation into the alleged role of the Petitioner is at a crucial stage. The Petitioner was arrested on 29.10.2025. He has been in judicial custody for only 47 days. The period in which an application for granting of custodial interrogation is not yet completed. Four more accused are still at large. The SIT is required to determine at whose behest the Petitioner had allegedly demanded Rs. 25 per kg of adulterated ghee the mode in which the money was paid to him and others, and who are the ultimate beneficiary unlawfully".Petitioner worked as Special Liaison Officer at AP Bhavan in New Delhi from October 2019 to October 2022 and Special Officer from October 2022 to June 2024 and received salary and other allowances from Andhra Pradesh Government.TTD had floated a tender for procurement of 24,50,000 Kgs of Agmark Special Grade CowGhee through tankers from National dairies.Four dairies–M/s PremierAgri Foods Pvt. Ltd, Bareilly; M/s Alpha Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd, Hathras; M/s Karnataka Coop Milk Producers Federations Ltd, Karnataka and M/sBhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Private Limited, Fatehpur participated in the tender.The high court noted that investigation revealed that the petitioner had demanded Rs.25 per Kg of ghee as commission for supply of ghee to TTD after awarding the ghee tender to M/s Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Private Limited.During the tender process, on 10.05.2022, Technical Evaluation committee meeting was conducted which recommended plant inspection of Bhole Baba dairy due to the alleged influence of petitioner. It was alleged that in the course of investigation petitioner did not divulge true facts about the demand of bribe.The court noted that it was divulged that on 06.06.2022 Bhole Baba dairy's plant was inspected by committee headed by General Manager (P), TTD who allegedly received repeated calls from petitioner and the committee reported that the plant is not technically qualified.For context while the State Government had constituted a Special Investigation Team, the Supreme Court had on 4.10.2024 in order to “to assuage the concerns of crores of devotees” ordered that investigation be conducted by an independent SIT comprising representatives of the CBI the State Government and the FSSAI. The petitioner was summoned multiple times by the SIT, and was arrested on 29.10.2025, when he allegedly stopped cooperating.Noting that his bail would hamper the investigation the high court rejected the plea in view of the "gravity and nature of the allegations levelled against the Petitioner". Case Number: CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 12357/2025Case Title: Kanduru Chinnappanna v. The State of Andhra PradeshClick Here To Read/Download Order

Tirupati Laddu Row: AP High Court Denies Bail To Govt Officer Accused Of Seeking Bribe For Awarding Ghee Tender

Saahas Arora

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