Tirupati Laddu: SC Disapproves Of Andhra CM's Press Statement Without Proof, Says Keep Gods Away From Politics

The Supreme Court questioned the need for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to make a press statement on adulterated ghee being used in Tirupati Laddus without any proof.

The top court today grilled the counsel appearing for Andhra Pradesh government on the need to go to press with such claims when the lab report prima facie shows that the adulterated ghee was not used and was detected in rejected samples.

Source : PTI

Tirupati Laddu Row: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it was not appropriate on part of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to make a public statements about adulterated ghee being used to prepare laddus without proof while the investigation was pending with SIT contituted by State government. The top court directed SG Tushar Mehta if the investigation should be transferred to an independent body from the state-appointed SIT. 

"We are prima facie of the view that when investigation was under process, it was not appropriate on part of high constitutional functionary to make statement which can affect public sentiments."  

The top court made these observations while hearing a batch of petitions concerning allegations of animal fat being found in ghee used to prepare prasadam at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh. The top court today grilled the counsel appearing for Andhra Pradesh government on the need to go to press with such claims when the lab report prima facie shows that the adulterated ghee was not used and was detected in rejected samples.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said that the court expects Gods be kept away from politics.  

Justice Viswanathan said that when the Lab report prima facie indicates that this Ghee was not used in the material used in the preparation for Prasad, then what was the urgency to go to press?

The bench asked the government to explain why they made statements in public in September when the report dates back to July. The court said when the investigation was incomplete, what was the necessity to go to press. The top court said that there is no proof to show that such a ghee was actually used in Prasadam at the Tirupati Temple.

The top court said that prima facie there has been no proof in lab report that the adulterated ghee was used in the Prasad.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had made a public statement on September 18 claiming that animal fat was used in preparing sacred Tirupati temple laddus. These statement sparked a countrywide uproar. Four petitions were filed in the court seeking court monitored probe and several other directions in the case.

The controversy surrounding the alleged use of adulterated ghee containing beef tallow and animal fat in the prasadam prepared for Tirupati temple has reached the Supreme Court. Atleast four PILs have been filed in the top court seeking probe into the allegations.

One PIL filed by Hindu Sena chief Suraji Singh Yadav has sought an SIT probe into the allegations. Another PIL has been filed Suresh Khanderao Chavhanke a TV News editor seeking CBI probe or any other independent central agency to investigate potential criminal conspiracy or corruption related to this incident.

Both the PILs have raised the issue of alleged use of adulterated ghee in laddus served as prasadam at the Tirupati temple.

The PIL by Chavhanke sought the appointment of a retired Supreme Court Judge or High Court Chief Justice to oversee the management of temples and shrines to ensure transparency and adherence to religious customs. The petition stated that the matter is of utmost importance to millions of devotees and required immediate attention from the highest court of the land to protect the sanctity of religious practices and restore faith in the temple administration.

YSRCP leader YV Subba Reddy has also filed a PIL in the Supreme Court on Tirupati Laddu issue. Reddy's PIL has sought a Supreme Court monitored probe into the allegations. Reddy is lawyer of former TTD Board chairman YV Subba Reddy. The PIL has called the talk of adulteration in Ghee used for Prasadam "nonsensical".

The PIL has denied any adulteration and claims that unnecessary ruckus is being created and canard is being spread.

Another PIL Has been filed by Subramanian Swamy seeking Supreme Court direction to investigate "unsubstantiated allegation" by CM C.B. Naidu that the Tirupati Tirumala Temple Prasadam were adulterated with meat of animals and other rotten items creating chaos amongst bhaktas.