Hyderabad, June 3: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched significant operations in connection with the notorious ghee adulteration scandal linked to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). On Wednesday, the agency conducted raids at 15 locations across multiple states.
This action, carried out by the ED’s Hyderabad zonal office, targeted various cities including Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra, Bikaner in Rajasthan, Dehradun and Roorkee in Uttarakhand, Delhi, Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, and Mumbai.
According to a statement from the ED, the raids were executed at the residential and commercial premises of individuals including Pomil Jain, Vipin Jain, Raju Rajasekharan, Rajesh Mansukhlal Chavda, Apurva Vinayakant Chavda, Machindra Shantaram Lanke, Ajay Kumar Sugandh, Mahesh Kumar Rohira, and Ashish Agarwal.
During the operations, the ED seized ₹6 million in cash. Additionally, the agency uncovered information related to assets worth over ₹450 million linked to proceeds of crime. Several properties registered under the names of the accused and their family members were also identified.
The raids included inspections at dairy plants such as A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited in Dindigul, Malganga Milk and Agro Products Private Limited in Ahilyanagar, and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Private Limited in Roorkee.
The ED reported the recovery of numerous incriminating documents during the searches. These documents suggest the use of a complex network of legal entities and business units to conceal and layer the proceeds of crime through allegedly fraudulent buying and selling transactions.
The central agency initiated the investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002, based on an FIR filed against A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited and others.
The accused are alleged to have conspired with certain TTD officials, committing betrayal and fraud by supplying adulterated ghee, resulting in financial losses for TTD.
Preliminary findings from the ED’s investigation indicate that the illicit funds obtained from supplying adulterated ghee to TTD were subsequently invested in various real estate assets. The investigation revealed attempts to obscure the true source of funds through interconnected companies and business entities.
The ED has stated that further investigations are ongoing.
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