Tirupati laddu row: Supreme Court orders new investigation and establishes 5-member SIT
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court of India has mandated an investigation by a special investigation team (SIT) into allegations regarding the use of substandard ghee containing animal fat in the preparation of the famous Tirupati laddus. This decision was made on Friday, with the SIT to be supervised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and comprising two state police officers and one member from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The court emphasised the sensitivity of the allegations, noting that they could potentially hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees globally. In a statement, the bench, which includes Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, declared, “To assuage the feelings of crores of people, we find that an investigation by an independent SIT consisting of representatives of the state police, CBI, and FSSAI shall be done.” Furthermore, the CBI director will monitor the investigation.
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam issue | Advocate Satyam Singh says "Supreme Court has ordered for the independent SIT constituted by 2 people from CBI, 2 from state police and 1 from Food Safety Authority and Supreme Court has disposed of the petition by commenting that if there will be… pic.twitter.com/IdDaBcaCXg — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2024
The Supreme Court clarified that its order aims to soothe the feelings of the large number of devotees associated with the renowned Sri Venkateswara Temple. It explicitly stated that the order should not be interpreted as questioning the integrity and impartiality of the members of the state SIT. “We have constituted the committee only to assuage the feelings of crores of people having faith in the deity,” the court added.
While the court recognised the seriousness of the allegations, it refrained from making any comments regarding the merits of the claims or counterclaims involved. The justices stated that they would not allow the court to be utilized as a "political battleground."
The controversy first emerged last month when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu cited a laboratory report indicating the presence of animal fat and fish oil in the ghee used for making laddus during the previous regime led by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
During earlier hearings, the Supreme Court criticised the Chief Minister for publicly discussing the claims without substantial proof. The court pointed out that there was no definitive evidence supporting the assertion that animal fat was indeed used in the laddus, as the laboratory report suggested that impurities had been found in ghee samples that were rejected.
In light of the Supreme Court's observations, the SIT established by the state government halted its investigation earlier this week, further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the case.
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- With inputs from agencies
