Panel blames Ex TTD official over relaxing tender norms

Tirupati: A single-member commission investigating the 2024 Tirupati ghee adulteration scandal has found former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer, AV Dharma Reddy, guilty of neglecting procurement protocols that compromised the quality of ghee used for preparing the famous Tirupati Laddu.

The investigation, led by retired IAS officer Dinesh Reddy, revealed that Dharma Reddy had relaxed tendering norms, allowing substandard firms to supply ghee. These firms, lacking the necessary credibility and operational capacity, were awarded contracts despite failing to meet quality standards.

The report also criticized the former TTD chairman, YV Subba Reddy, for ignoring test results from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, which had flagged the adulterated ghee.

In light of these findings, the commission has recommended disciplinary action against Dharma Reddy for his failure to properly oversee the procurement process, leading to the distribution of compromised ghee.