Tirupati Laddu Case: SC forms SIT to probe ghee adulteration, monitored by CBI director
The Supreme Court had clarified that the SIT has to be impartial, and therefore it consists of members from key agencies - CBI, central government, state police, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Tirupati Laddu Case: The Supreme Court of India has directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a thorough inquiry concerning the alleged adulteration of the sacred Tirumala Tirupati laddu prasadam, as part of the Tirupati Laddu Case. This decision reflects the court’s resolve to address the concerns of millions of devotees who revere the laddu as a sacred offering.
The Supreme Court had clarified that the SIT has to be impartial, and therefore it consists of members from key agencies – CBI, central government, state police, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This diverse composition is aimed at providing a complete, unbiased probe. Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan stated, “We won’t allow the Supreme Court to be used for political drama,” while dismissing previous petitions and replacing the state-level team from Andhra Pradesh with the newly formed SIT.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, advocated for central oversight of the investigation. He noted, “Let the probe be supervised by a senior official of the central government; only that will inspire confidence,” and clarified that this approach was necessary, not due to mistrust in the state SIT, but to ensure public confidence in the process.
What are the allegations?
The court also acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations that the laddus contained animal fat. The justices stressed, “This court cannot be made a political battleground,” reaffirming their commitment to a politically neutral and transparent investigation. The SIT’s findings will decide on these allegations and uphold the sanctity of the sacred prasadam.
Tirupati laddu case explained
The popular Tirupati laddus have caught controversy as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that ‘animal fat’ was found in the ghee used to make the prasadam during the previous regime of Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. These laddus, offered to Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple for more than 300 years, are made daily using around 10 tonnes of cow ghee.
Naidu cited a lab report from the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat, suggesting possible contamination of the ghee with animal fats like beef tallow. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the temple, had requested the report. Meanwhile, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notice to A.R. Dairy, a ghee supplier, over alleged substandard products. The dairy denied the claims.
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