‘Defiled sentiments worldwide’: Andhra Pradesh High Court denies bail to official with Rs 4.6Cr in bank in Tirupati Ghee case

“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 the 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 order read.

The Andhra Pradesh high Court said that investigators still require to determine at whose behest the petitioner demanded Rs 25 per kg of ghee. (Image enhanced using AI)

Findings

• The investigation revealed substantial incriminating material against the petitioner.
• During the investigation, it is revealed that the petitioner received huge amounts towards bribe from the representatives of ghee suppliers.
• He acquired immovable properties of 13 plots and one flat in his name during the period from 2021 to 2024.
• The petitioner had not co-operated in the investigation.
• He did not reveal that under whose instructions he interfered in the affairs of TTD, as personal assistant to the then Chairman, TTD.
• He also failed to disclose under whose instructions he demanded and accepted money from the suppliers of ghee to TTD.
• There are several transactions including huge cash deposits in his accounts maintained at State Bank of India and Union 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 petitioner was arrested on October 29, 2025, had been in judicial custody for only 47 days.
• The period for effective custodial interrogation is not yet over.
• Investigators still required to determine at whose behest the petitioner demanded Rs 25 per kg of ghee, the mode of payment, and the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged illegal gains.
• Bail at this stage would impede the investigation.
• Considering the “gravity and nature of the allegations,” the request for bail was neither convincing nor reasonable, said the court on December 15, 2025.

Allegations

• The case arises from a 2024 FIR registered at Tirupati East Police Station over allegations that adulterated and substandard cow ghee was supplied to the Tirupati temple and used in the preparation of laddus offered to devotees at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple.
• The FIR invokes offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 274 and 275 (adulteration and sale of noxious food), Sections 316(5) and 318 (criminal breach of trust and cheating), Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), read with Sections 49 and 3(5), along with provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• The petitioner, arraigned as accused number 24, is a public servant who worked as special liaison officer at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan, New Delhi from October 2019 to October 2022,
• He also worked as special officer from October 2022 to June 2024, drawing salary and allowances from the Andhra Pradesh government.
• TTD had floated a tender for procurement of 24,50,000 kilograms of Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee.
  Four dairies had participated in the process
• According to the prosecution, after the tender was awarded to Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, the petitioner allegedly demanded a commission of Rs 25 per kilogram of ghee for facilitating the supply.

Arguments

• Advocate C Nageswara Rao, appearing for the petitioner contended that he was falsely implicated in the case.
• He said that the petitioner had cooperated with the investigation on multiple occasions, and had already undergone police custody.
• It was argued that he never worked in TTD and that the investigation had exceeded the mandate given by the Supreme Court of India, which had ordered a probe into adulteration of ghee, not alleged accumulation of assets.
• Opposing the plea, Special Public Prosecutor P S P Suresh Kumar submitted that the petitioner had demanded bribes from ghee suppliers, influenced the tender process, and amassed assets grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income.
• The prosecution alleged that although his total salary during the relevant period was about Rs 65 lakh, transactions amounting to approximately Rs 4.60 Crore were detected in his bank accounts with State Bank of India and Union Bank of India.
• The prosecution further alleged that money was routed through cash deposits and suspected hawala channels.
• It also alleged that he had acquired 13 plots and one flat between 2021 and 2024.
• It was also contended that four accused were still absconding and custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the larger conspiracy.