Is the Tirupati Laddu Adulteration Allegation Headed for a Court-Monitored Investigation?
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The Supreme Court is set to hear a series of petitions on September 30, calling for an independent, court-monitored investigation into allegations of adulteration in the ghee used for preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP-led government in Andhra Pradesh.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan will preside over the matter. The controversy was triggered by a lab report disclosed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, which claimed that the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Temple contained foreign fats, including animal fats such as beef fat and fish oil, during the previous regime.
Key Petitions Filed:
1. Suresh Khanderao Chavhanke's Petition
Suresh Khanderao Chavhanke, Editor of Sudarshan News TV, has petitioned for an investigation led by a retired Supreme Court or High Court Chief Justice. His petition argues that the use of non-vegetarian ingredients in prasadam violates the fundamental rights of devotees under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which protect the freedom of religion and religious practices.
Additionally, Chavhanke seeks the appointment of a retired judge to oversee temple management to ensure transparency and adherence to religious customs.
2. Petition by Surjit Singh Yadav
Hindu Sena President Surjit Singh Yadav has filed a petition requesting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the adulteration claims. Yadav argues that the alleged use of animal fat in the laddus has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu devotees.
3. Dr. Subramanian Swamy’s Petition
Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is seeking a court-monitored investigation committee. He has raised concerns about the forensic examination of the ghee samples and called for a detailed report on the source and testing procedures of the ghee. Swamy contends that the issue has been politicized, causing distress to millions of devotees, and should have been resolved internally by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
Swamy’s petition also raises several questions for the proposed committee to investigate:
Was the ghee sample collected properly by the testing agency?
Was the sample used in offerings or from rejected stock?
Which supplier was responsible for the adulterated ghee?
Is there a possibility of a false positive in the lab results?
Was there any political intervention in releasing the report?
4. Petition by YV Subba Reddy
YV Subba Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP and former TTD Chairman, has also sought an independent court-monitored investigation, possibly led by a retired judge and domain experts. He has called for a forensic report on the lab test and the procurement of the ghee. Reddy emphasized that the TTD follows stringent protocols for testing ghee before use in prasadam preparation, and any non-compliant batch is rejected.
Reddy's petition also criticized the remarks made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu, alleging that his statements have disrupted the religious sentiments of devotees. He further pointed out inconsistencies in the state government’s statements, highlighting the silence on the issue for over two months despite lab reports dating back to July 2024.
5. Petition by Dr. Vikram Sampath and Dushyanth Sridhar
Historian Dr. Vikram Sampath and spiritual speaker Dushyanth Sridhar have also filed a petition aimed at reducing government influence in temple management. Their plea advocates for establishing more accountability in Hindu temples that are managed by government bodies.
The Supreme Court will take up these petitions on September 30, and the outcome could have significant implications for both religious and political spheres in Andhra Pradesh.