Tirupati Laddoo Row: Amul Takes Legal Action Against X Users For Defamatory Posts

Amul has taken legal action against the spread of misinformation linking the company to a controversy surrounding the ghee used in the famous laddoos offered as prasadam at the Tirupati temple.

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which manages the Amul brand, lodged a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ahmedabad.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/Amul_Coop

The complaint accuses certain individuals of deliberately spreading false reports on social media, claiming that Amul supplied ghee that allegedly contained animal fat, which was used in making the laddoos at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.

Amul's Managing Director, Jayen Mehta, addressed the situation directly, explaining the company's decision to file the complaint, reported India Today.

"There have been posts circulating for several days alleging that the ghee used in Tirupati temple's laddoos was adulterated, with some claiming that the ghee was supplied by Amul," he stated.

"I want to clarify that Amul has never supplied ghee to Tirupati Devasthanam. Those trying to drag Amul into this controversy and tarnish its reputation are the reason we filed an FIR with Ahmedabad Cyber Crime."

Mehta said that Amul is a cooperative owned by 3.6 million farmer families, and the spread of such false information could severely impact their livelihoods.

He added, "This false propaganda and misinformation could severely impact their livelihood, which is why we have taken legal action to stop the spread of this misinformation. Since the controversy arose, we have also used our social media platforms to inform people that Amul has never supplied ghee to Tirupati Devasthanam. Our products are of the highest quality, passing all standards, and we have been delivering premium ghee to consumers for years."

Amul also issued a public clarification on its social media channels, reiterating that the company had no involvement in the Tirupati laddoo controversy and that it had never supplied ghee to the temple.

This step came as part of their broader effort to counteract the misinformation.

The issue surrounding the laddoos escalated on September 19 when former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government, under Jagan Mohan Reddy, had used substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in making the prasadam.

These allegations gained traction when a lab report confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos distributed to devotees, igniting public outrage.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) condemned the matter, describing it as a "serious issue" and calling for stringent action against those responsible for using animal fat in the temple offerings.