Supreme Court Orders SIT Probe Into Tirupati Laddu Row: 'Don't Want This To Turn Into Political Drama'

Tirupati Laddu Row: The SIT will include two officers from the CBI, two officials from the state police, and a senior representative from the FSSAI, as per the court's instructions.

The Supreme Court stressed that oversight by an independent body would help maintain public trust.

Source : PTI

Tirupati Laddu Row: The Supreme Court has directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an independent inquiry into the claims of animal fat being used in laddus distributed as prasad at the Tirupati temple. The SIT will include two officers from the CBI, two officials from the state police, and a senior representative from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), as per the court's instructions.

The court gave the order while hearing four petitions demanding an investigation into the alleged presence of animal fat in the ghee used to prepare laddus at Tirupati. The cases was heard by a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan.  

During the hearing, the bench questioned Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu for "prematurely" making the issue public along with the claim of the previous YSRCP government using substandard ghee with presence of animal fat. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed the Supreme Court that if the allegations hold any merit, they are highly unacceptable. He proposed that the SIT investigation should be overseen by a senior central official to instill confidence in the process.

The Apex Court stated that it seeks to avoid turning the issue into a political controversy. The court stressed that oversight by an independent body would help maintain public trust.

 

Supreme Court orders a fresh independent SIT into the allegations of use of animal fat to make laddus to serve as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped. https://t.co/FnGRyYpD7S

— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2024

 

Advocate Satyam Singh told ANI, "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 anything you can again approach the court while pendency of the investigation."