NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday established a new, independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of animal fat being used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus.
The SIT will include two officials from both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Andhra Pradesh Police, along with a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The apex court stated that this new SIT was needed to instill public confidence, replacing the previous SIT formed by the Andhra Pradesh government. A bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K.V. Viswanathan issued the order after hearing petitions alleging the use of adulterated ghee in the laddus and calling for a thorough investigation.
The court emphasized that it had not examined the validity of the allegations but stressed that the case should not be politicized. "We don't want this to turn into a political drama," the bench remarked.
Given the religious sentiments tied to the Tirupati laddu, the court acknowledged the need for a detailed investigation.
Concerns Over the State SIT
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the state SIT, suggesting that a central officer could supervise it. However, the Supreme Court opted for a fully independent team. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Andhra Pradesh, proposed continuing with the state SIT, adding a court-appointed officer to the team. He argued that there were no allegations against the existing members of the SIT. Meanwhile, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy, called for an independent investigation.
Criticism of Chandrababu Naidu's Public Comments
The court had earlier criticized Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for making public statements about the use of contaminated ghee before an FIR was registered and an investigation initiated. It noted that Naidu’s comments on September 18 were premature, given that the state investigation was still ongoing and only one out of five suppliers was found to have provided substandard products.
Petitions and Public Outcry
Several petitions, including one from BJP leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy, were filed in the Supreme Court, calling for a court-monitored investigation into the alleged use of animal fat in the laddus. Swamy’s plea stressed the need for proper checks on the quality of ingredients used in temple offerings and criticized the mishandling of test results. He also urged the State of Andhra Pradesh to provide a detailed report on the source and quality of ghee used.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also urged the Supreme Court to initiate an investigation, calling for accountability over the alleged adulteration. Public Interest Litigations (PILs), including one by Surjit Singh Yadav, argued that the alleged use of animal fat violated the sacred principles of Hinduism and deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the community.
The Supreme Court highlighted the need for careful handling of the case, stressing that statements by officials during ongoing investigations could influence the emotions of millions of devotees. The court also requested the Solicitor General to consult with the Central Government regarding the necessity of an independent probe.
Political Responses
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to establish an independent SIT. TDP spokesperson Pattabhiram Kommareddy stated that the state government aims to uncover the truth and punish those responsible for tampering with the religious sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara.
During an NDA meeting in Andhra Pradesh last month, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had accused the former YSRCP government of using substandard ingredients and animal fat in the preparation of the revered Tirupati laddus, sparking nationwide controversy. The allegations deeply hurt the sentiments of Hindus across the country.