In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the formation of an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations surrounding the use of adulterated ghee and other substandard materials in the production of laddus offered as prasadam at the renowned Tirumala Tirupati Temple. This decision comes after a series of petitions demanding a court-monitored investigation into the controversy.
The SIT will be composed of two officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), nominated by the CBI director. Additionally, two officers from the Andhra Pradesh State Police, nominated by the State Government, and a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will be part of the team. This information was reported by LiveLaw.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, has been hearing these petitions. During the last hearing on September 30, the court had expressed its dissatisfaction with the previous investigation and called for a central investigation, particularly after criticizing comments made by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
The court further emphasized that the CBI Director will oversee the SIT investigation. The order was passed to alleviate the concerns of countless devotees who hold immense faith in the Tirumala temple deity, as reported by various sources. Justice Gavai remarked, “Both are warring groups…lakhs of devotees’ faith involved,” highlighting the sensitivity of the matter.
This development comes amidst allegations of irregularities in the production of Tirupati laddus, a popular offering at the temple. The controversy has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about the quality and authenticity of the prasadam. The SIT’s investigation is expected to shed light on these allegations and provide a definitive answer to the concerns of devotees.
