The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt. Ltd., in connection with the alleged adulteration of ghee supplied for preparing the famous Tirupati Laddu prasadam. The arrest was made on September 17, 2026, as part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation.

According to the ED, around ₹230 crore worth of allegedly fraudulent ghee supplies were made to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) between 2019 and 2024.

The agency has alleged that approximately ₹96 crore worth of the suspected adulterated product was manufactured at Mangla’s factory.

The ED claims that the product supplied to TTD as “Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee” was allegedly manufactured using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein and certain chemical substances.

The agency has alleged that these materials were processed and presented as pure cow ghee before being supplied for the preparation of Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

The investigation further alleges that Mangla was involved in procuring the alleged adulterants, overseeing their manufacturing and coordinating supplies through intermediary companies.

The ED has also alleged that false purchase and sales records were maintained to make the transactions appear legitimate.

Several companies, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt. Ltd., Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. and A.R. Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd., have come under the agency’s investigation for their alleged role in the supply chain.

Following his arrest under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Mangla was produced before the Special PMLA Court in Visakhapatnam, which reportedly remanded him to judicial custody.

The case originated from an FIR registered at Tirupati East Police Station, involving allegations including criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

The ED is now investigating the alleged financial transactions and proceeds connected with the suspected fraudulent ghee supplies.

Important: These are allegations made during an ongoing investigation. The allegations against Mangla and others remain subject to judicial proceedings and should not be treated as established guilt.