ED arrests Sukriti Foods promoter in TTD ghee adulteration case
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Sept 19 (TNT): The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, probing alleged money laundering linked to the Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration case, has arrested Delhi-based businessman and Sukriti Foods Pvt Ltd promoter Kailash Chand Mangla for his alleged involvement in the manufacture and supply of adulterated ghee worth around Rs 96 crore to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
Mangla was arrested on September 17 under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and produced him before the Special Court (PMLA) in Visakhapatnam, which remanded him to judicial custody, according to Agency .
According to the ED, its investigation revealed that fraudulent ghee supplies to TTD between 2019 and 2024 were valued at around Rs 230 crore, of which adulterated ghee worth about Rs 96 crore was allegedly manufactured by Mangla.
Mangla, promoter of Sukriti Foods, was one of the alleged conspirators in the case and facilitated procurement of adulterants and manufactured the adulterated ghee at his factory premises, the agency alleged.
He also allegedly coordinated the supply of the adulterated ghee through various front entities, including Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities Pvt Ltd, Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd and A R Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd, it said.
The investigation further revealed that Mangla allegedly created and maintained false records relating to the sale and purchase of ghee and refined palm oil to conceal the actual use of adulterants and create an appearance of legitimate production and supply of genuine cow ghee, the ED said.
Earlier, the agency had arrested Vipin Jain, promoter and director of Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd, who is alleged to have orchestrated the manufacture and fraudulent supply of adulterated ghee to TTD as part of the ongoing investigation.
Further investigation is under progress, the agency added.
TNT TS
