ED arrests another accused in Tirumala ghee adulteration case

The Hyderabad zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Kailash Chand Mangla on Thursday (September 17) under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the alleged ghee adulteration case at Tirumala. He was produced before the PMLA Special Court in Visakhapatnam, which remanded him in judicial custody.

The case originated with an FIR registered at the Tirupati East police station alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption in connection with the fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

According to the ED, its investigation revealed that the adulterated ghee was manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and other chemicals, including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester. The product was subsequently supplied to the TTD as ‘Agmark Special Grade cow ghee’ for use in the preparation of the sacred ‘Laddu Prasadam’.