Chennai, June 4:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, carried out extensive search operations at 15 locations across multiple states in connection with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) ghee adulteration fraud case.
According to an official release, the raids were conducted in Ahilyanagar, Bikaner, Dehradun, Delhi, Dindigul, Guntur, Mumbai, and Roorkee, covering residential and office premises of several individuals linked to the case.
During the searches, ED officials seized ā¹60 lakh in cash and unearthed investments and assets worth over ā¹45 crore, believed to be proceeds of crime. The agency also identified multiple immovable properties allegedly held in the names of accused persons and their family members.
The searches extended to dairy processing units, including AR Dairy Food Pvt. Ltd. in Dindigul, Malganga Milk & Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. in Ahilyanagar, and Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt. Ltd. in Roorkee. Officials also recovered documents suggesting a network of entities used for bogus transactions to launder illicit funds.
The ED said the investigation is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an FIR alleging criminal breach of trust and cheating linked to the supply of adulterated ghee to TTD.
Preliminary findings indicate that proceeds from the alleged scam were routed through interconnected business entities and invested in properties to conceal their origin. The investigation is ongoing.