Goa, May 2 -- A government-appointed probe has uncovered serious lapses in the procurement of ghee used for preparing the iconic Tirupati laddu, pointing to administrative failures and weak enforcement of rules within the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The one-man committee, headed by retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar, was constituted earlier this year following allegations and lab reports confirming adulteration in ghee supplies.

The committee examined the tender process, supplier selection, and quality control mechanisms, concluding that the issue went beyond mere failure to detect adulteration. Instead, it stemmed from how procurement norms were framed and implemented. The report highlighted that the procurement committee create...