Sukriti Foods promoter arrested in Tirupati ghee adulteration case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kailash Chand Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods Pvt. Ltd., in connection with a money laundering investigation involving the adulteration of ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

Investigators allege that between 2019 and 2024, fraudulent ghee supplies to the temple were valued at approximately Rs 230 crore. Mangla is accused of manufacturing adulterated ghee worth Rs 96 crore by using refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, palmolein, and various chemicals—including MG-90, monoglycerides, Myvacet Soft 400, and acetic acid ester—while presenting the product as Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee.

The ED claims Mangla acted as a co-conspirator, procuring adulterants, manufacturing the product at his factory, and coordinating supplies through various front entities such as Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt. Ltd., Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt. Ltd., and A. R. Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd. He is also accused of maintaining false records to conceal the use of adulterants. Mangla was produced before a special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam and has been remanded to judicial custody.