The Sukriti Foods Tirupati ghee case saw a major development on September 17, 2026, when the Enforcement Directorate’s Hyderabad Zonal Office arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt. Ltd., under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He was produced before the Special PMLA Court in Visakhapatnam, which remanded him to judicial custody.
The Scale of the Alleged Fraud
The ED alleges that fraudulent ghee supplies to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) between 2019 and 2024 were worth approximately ₹230 crore, with around ₹96 crore worth of adulterated product manufactured directly at Mangla’s own factory. The remaining supply chain reportedly ran through several front companies.
What Was Actually in the Ghee
According to the agency, the adulterated product was manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400, acetic acid ester, and other chemical additives, then passed off as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee for use in Tirumala’s laddu prasadam.
How the Network Allegedly Worked
The ED said Mangla facilitated the procurement of adulterants, oversaw manufacturing at his own factory, and coordinated supplies through intermediary firms including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities, Malganga Milk & Agro Products, and AR Dairy Foods. Investigators also allege he maintained false purchase and sales records for ghee and refined palm oil to make the adulterated supply appear genuine.
Part of a Wider Investigation
Mangla is the second major arrest in the case; the ED had earlier arrested Vipin Jain, promoter of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk. Separately, a CBI-led Special Investigation Team had earlier arrested four individuals, including former Bhole Baba Dairy directors and executives from Vaishnavi Dairy and AR Dairy, over alleged forged tender documents and false sourcing claims. The probe originated from an FIR filed at Tirupati East Police Station alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and corruption.