Hyderabad, Oct. 31 -- The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Supreme Court in October 2024 to probe the alleged adulteration of ghee used in the preparation of the famous Tirumala laddu, on Wednesday night arrested K Chinna Appanna, a close aide of YSR Congress party's Rajya Sabha member and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman Y V Subba Reddy, people familiar with the matter said.

Appanna, a native of Vizianagaram district, served as Subba Reddy's personal assistant from 2014 till 2024. During the YSRCP's regime between 2019 and 2024, he also handled protocol responsibilities at the AP Bhavan in New Delhi.

According to an official privy to the SIT investigation, Appanna allegedly played a key role in a...