The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Supreme Court to probe the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the preparation of the famous Tirumala laddu prasadam, on Wednesday night arrested Appanna, former personal assistant to YSR Congress party’s Rajya Sabha member and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman Y V Subba Reddy.
This marks the first political-linked arrest in the ongoing investigation into the supply of substandard and adulterated ghee to the TTD during the previous YSRCP government.
Appanna, a native of Vizianagaram district, served as Subba Reddy’s PA from 2014 — when Reddy was elected as Ongole MP — until the completion of the 2024 general elections.
During YSRCP’s rule, he also handled protocol responsibilities at the AP Bhavan in New Delhi.
The case traces back to the tenure of Subba Reddy as TTD Chairman, when Bhole Baba Dairy, based in Uttarakhand, supplied ghee to the temple. The TTD later blacklisted the firm after finding the ghee substandard.
However, investigations revealed that Bhole Baba directors continued to supply adulterated ghee through other front companies, allegedly with the knowledge of senior TTD officials.
Despite repeated red flags, the procurement continued — reportedly due to kickbacks and commissions.
Later, Tamil Nadu–based A.R. Dairy won the ghee supply contract, but it too sourced the material from Bhole Baba, using Sri Vaishnavi Dairy in Tirupati as an intermediary.
According to SIT, Appanna allegedly played a key role in awarding contracts to ineligible dairies. He was earlier interrogated for two days in June at the SIT office in Tirupati, after which he approached the state high court.
The high court granted a stay on the probe on July 10. However, following Supreme Court directions, the investigation resumed in late September.
After two days of renewed questioning this week, the SIT officials arrested Appanna for non-cooperation and produced him before the ACB Court in Nellore on Wednesday night.
With the arrest, speculation is rife that SIT may soon summon Subba Reddy himself for questioning regarding his role in the ghee procurement irregularities.
