Amaravati, Oct 7: Laboratory tests cited in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Tirumala Laddu ghee case found no lard in four ghee samples tested by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal.
The finding comes amid the controversy over allegations that animal fat was used in the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for preparing the famous Tirumala Srivari Laddu.
According to the NDRI report dated May 16, 2025, four ghee samples collected from four tankers supplied by A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited were tested for the presence of lard using a PCR-based laboratory method.
The report stated that lard was not detected in any of the four samples.
NDRI tests four Tirumala ghee samples
The supplementary chargesheet refers to laboratory analysis conducted by ICAR-NDRI, Karnal.
The four samples were collected from four tankers of A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited and sent to NDRI for testing. The laboratory specifically examined the samples to determine whether they contained lard, a fat derived from pork.
The report said that the samples were tested using a PCR-based method and that lard was not detected in any of the four samples.
The laboratory report also specified a detection limit for the test.
SIT examines ghee adulteration allegations
The laboratory findings form part of the broader investigation into the alleged supply of adulterated ghee to TTD.
The SIT has examined reports from different laboratories as part of its investigation into the quality and composition of the ghee supplied for Tirumala laddus.
Reports from other laboratories and agencies have also been referred to in the investigation.
However, the finding that lard was not detected should not automatically be interpreted as a blanket conclusion that all forms of animal fat were absent from every ghee sample. The NDRI report specifically relates to its testing for lard.
Tirumala Laddu ghee controversy
The Tirumala Laddu ghee controversy gained national attention in 2024 after allegations that animal fat had been used in the ghee supplied for preparing the sacred laddus.
The allegations triggered a political controversy in Andhra Pradesh and raised concerns among devotees over the quality of ingredients used in the preparation of the Tirumala Srivari Laddu.
The Supreme Court later directed the constitution of an independent investigation team, leading to a CBI-led SIT probe into the allegations.
What the latest laboratory finding says
The NDRI report cited in the supplementary chargesheet establishes one specific point: lard was not detected in the four ghee samples tested by the laboratory.
At the same time, the broader investigation concerns allegations of ghee adulteration and the supply of substandard material to TTD.
Therefore, the latest findings distinguish between the specific allegation of lard or animal fat and the wider issue of whether the ghee supplied to TTD met the required quality standards.
The supplementary chargesheet and the laboratory reports are expected to remain central to the ongoing legal proceedings in the Tirumala Laddu ghee case.
