The Andhra Pradesh High Court has granted conditional bail to Raju Rajasekaran, Managing Director of AR Dairy Food Private Limited, in the high-profile Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration case. The ruling was issued by Justice T. Mallikarjuna Rao, who mandated that Rajasekaran provide two sureties of âč50,000 each and report to the investigating officer once a month for a period of six months.
This legal development comes after public outcry and scrutiny over allegations that AR Dairy supplied adulterated ghee for use in the iconic Tirumala templeâs laddus, which are considered sacred by millions of devotees.
The case has sparked renewed discussion about milk adulteration in India, especially concerning the quality and traceability of ghee supplied to temples and mass distribution centres. Regulatory authorities have intensified checks on dairy supply chains following the incident, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and local food safety departments have already begun separate investigations into AR Dairyâs production units and supply records.
đ§ The Larger Issue: Milk and Ghee Adulteration in India
This incident highlights persistent challenges in food safety within the Indian dairy industry, particularly concerning ghee adulteration, which not only carries legal consequences but also poses serious public health risks and threatens religious sentiments.
With Indian dairy consumption increasingly favouring packaged and ready-to-distribute products, especially for religious or public events, traceability, certifications, and source integrity have become critical issues for both dairy manufacturers and cooperative suppliers.
