Amidst reports in a section of mainstream media and social media that former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) executive officer A V Dharma Reddy has turned approver in the alleged adulterated ghee supply scam in Tirumala during his tenure, being probed by a special investigation team (SIT), a clarification surfaced in the media, denying these reports.
Surprisingly, the clarification has come to the media, not from Dharma Reddy, but from the YSR Congress party, quoting him as saying that there was no adulteration of ghee at all and that he had not disclosed any names to the investigation officers during his two-day interrogation.
The statement quoting Dharma Reddy said it was a false propaganda by certain media outlets that he had turned an approver. It said these media outlets are misleading the public and hurting the sentiments of devotees.
It appealed to the media not to distort facts related to the TTD ghee inquiry and not to misguide people with baseless narratives.
According to the statement, in the TTD ghee matter, the SIT officials led by the CBI questioned Dharma Reddy on Tuesday at the CBI office in Bhudevi Complex near Alipiri in Tirupati. As part of the inquiry, CBI DIG Murali Rambha and ASP Venkata Rao recorded his statements.
“The former executive officer clarified that the questioning was routine, covering officials who previously held responsibilities in TTD, and he fully cooperated and answered every question clearly,” the statement said.
During the questioning, he was asked about tender procedures — including how ghee quality was verified without a TTD lab, which labs tested samples, how tenders were finalized if there were doubts on quality, whether dairy suppliers’ credentials were verified, how adulteration could occur without his knowledge, and why no action was taken if adulteration occurred.
He stated that he followed all rules in the tender process and asserted that no adulteration took place, hence the question of action does not arise.
He clarified that neither he nor YV Subba Reddy had any role to answer when there was no wrongdoing.
He stressed that all decisions were taken responsibly to uphold the glory of Lord Venkateswara, and all records are legal and available for verification.
