Overview
- Former PA K. Chinna Appanna was arrested in Tirupati, produced before the ACB court in Nellore, and remanded to judicial custody until November 11.
- The SIT named him Accused No. 24 and says call records and bank statements indicate about ₹50 lakh in kickbacks, including via hawala channels.
- Investigators allege he demanded ₹25 per kg from suppliers and, after Bhole Baba refused, pushed inspections and complaints that led to its ouster and a higher-priced award to Premier Agrifoods at ₹467 per kg versus ₹329.
- CFTRI-Mysuru testing in 2022 reportedly detected vegetable fats in ghee supplied to TTD, with about 68 lakh kg worth roughly ₹250 crore delivered between 2022 and 2024.
- The probe resumed in late September on Supreme Court directions, Appanna was questioned again this week, and the CBI-supervised SIT says the arrest followed non-cooperation.