Payyavula Keshav slams YSRC, says SIT report proves ghee adulteration

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh finance minister Payyavula Keshav on Saturday tore into the opposition YSRCP, which claimed that the CBI-led special investigation team (SIT) ruled out the presence of animal fat in the ghee supplied to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for the preparation of sacred laddu prasadam. Keshav stated that the SIT report clearly mentioned that the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) report confirmed the presence of traces of animal fat.Pointing to another report given by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in 2022, when YSRCP was in power, Keshav said that the then TTD administration suppressed that report, which confirmed adulteration. He said that the CBI established corruption, and the lab reports confirmed adulteration. In fact, the ghee that was supplied was not ghee at all but a chemical compound, he said.Keshav further alleged that the conspiracy began with the change of procurement norms after YSRCP came to power in 2019. The guidelines in vogue between 2014 and 2019 mandated that suppliers had a minimum turnover of Rs 250 crore, 3 years' experience, a milk procurement capacity of 4 lakh litres, and were subject to inspections and laboratory testing through a dedicated committee. However, these processes were done away with in the YSRCP regime, paving the way for ineligible dairies that did not procure 1 litre of milk.Keshav said the TTD sent ghee samples for testing during the YSRCP regime. In 2022, CFTRI, Mysuru, confirmed adulteration, detecting chemicals, beta-sitosterol, animal fat, and residual substances. He said the SIT recorded that this report was suppressed, and no action was taken.According to the SIT, in 2022, Chinna Appanna, personal assistant to the then TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy, allegedly demanded ₹25 per litre as kickbacks from Bholebaba Dairy. After the dairy declined, it was declared ineligible and allegedly forced to route supplies through other channels. The SIT estimated the fraud at Rs 240 crore, with Rs 4 crore allegedly credited to Appanna's account, and the CBI is still investigating to trace the remaining amount, he said.Keshav said the 219-page SIT report documented the conspiracy and wrongdoing by the YSRCP govt, which affected devotees' sentiments. He challenged the YSRCP to produce any report contradicting the findings. He said the chief minister would decide on the next legal course after reviewing the report.