TTD News: Who is Kailash Chand Manglam? ED arrests supplier in Tirupati Laddu ghee adulteration case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly arrested one of the co-conspirators in connection with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration case.

Accused Kailash Chand Manglam has been accused of aiding and abetting the purchase of adulterated ingredients and production of adulterated ghee at his factory premises, news agency ANI reported on Friday.

Manglam was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. On September 17, he was arrested and produced before the Special Court (PMLA) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which sent him to judicial custody.

What did the probe reveal?

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Hyderabad zonal office arrested Mangla following its investigation launched on the basis of a first information report (FIR) registered at the Tirupati East police station.

An FIR has been lodged alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption in connection with fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to TTD.

The ED on Friday said the ghee used to prepare ‘Tirupati Laddu’ prasadam was allegedly manufactured using refined palm oil, palm olein and various chemicals.

An ED investigation revealed that “adulterated ghee was allegedly manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palm olein and various chemicals including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400 and acetic acid ester and was subsequently supplied as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee for supply to TTD,” ANI reported.

The alleged fraudulent supply of ghee to TTD during 2019-2024 was valued at ₹230 million and from that ₹96 lakh crore of adulterated ghee was manufactured by Mangla, it claimed.

“The alleged fraudulent supply of ghee to TTD during 2019-2024 was valued at ₹230 million and from that ₹Kailash Chand Mangla produced 96 crores of adulterated ghee,” the federal agency said in a statement.

Who is Kailash Chand Mangla?

Mangla, the promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd, is one of the co-conspirators in the case. He was accused of “facilitating the acquisition of adulterers”. He was allegedly manufacturing adulterated ghee in his factory premises.

“Mangla also coordinated the supply of adulterated ghee through various leading entities including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialties Pvt Ltd, Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd and AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd,” the ED said.

“He also created and maintained false records relating to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil to conceal the actual use of foreign substances and create the appearance of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee,” the financial investigation agency said.

Previous arrests

Earlier, the ED had arrested Vipin Jain, the promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd., who allegedly masterminded the production and fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to TTD, as part of the ongoing investigation in the case.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)