Tirupati Laddu Controversy: The Supreme Court has ordered a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations made by the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chandrababu Naidu, against the previous YSR Congress Party administration. The allegations claim that substandard ghee containing animal fat was used to prepare the famous laddus at Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan directed that the newly formed SIT will include two officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), two from the Andhra Pradesh State Police, and one senior officer from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The investigation will be supervised by the CBI director.
The Court emphasized that the independent SIT is being established to address the concerns of millions of devotees. It clarified that this decision should not be viewed as a reflection of the fairness of the existing state SIT but is necessary to preserve public faith.
The case centers around allegations that ghee used in the temple’s laddu preparation contained animal fat, a claim that has raised concerns among devotees. Petitioners, including former MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy and YSR Congress Party leader YV Subba Reddy, have demanded a thorough investigation.
Previously, the Supreme Court questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for publicly accusing the YSR Congress Party without conclusive proof. The Court sought clarification from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who recommended an independent officer to supervise the probe, ensuring public confidence in the investigation.
While the Andhra Pradesh government, represented by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued for continuing with the current SIT, others, including Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, called for an impartial probe due to the politicization of the issue. The Court ultimately reconstituted the SIT to ensure transparency and neutrality in the investigation.
