Tirupati laddu row: Supreme Court to hold crucial hearing on plea for independent investigation today

PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions calling for an independent investigation into the ongoing controversy surrounding the laddu offerings at the Tirupati Temple on Friday, October 4. The bench, comprised of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, will convene at 10:30 a.m. to address this significant matter.

In previous proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was directed to communicate the Central Government’s stance on the necessity of a federal probe into the allegations.

Potential Transfer of Investigation to an Independent Agency

On Monday, the Supreme Court indicated that it would consider the possibility of transferring the investigation regarding allegations of ghee adulterated with animal fat in the preparation of the temple’s laddus from the Andhra Pradesh government to an independent agency. This announcement comes amid rising public concern and controversy over the quality of the famed Tirupati Laddus.

The Court also expressed its disapproval of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for making public statements regarding the purported use of animal fat in the laddus while the investigation was still active and no formal First Information Report (FIR) had been lodged regarding the claims.

Focus on Evidence of Adulteration

During the previous hearings, the bench inquired about the evidence supporting claims that ‘contaminated ghee’ was utilized in the preparation of the revered Tirupati Laddus. Tushar Mehta acknowledged the matter’s sensitivity, emphasizing that the use of adulterated ghee in these offerings, which hold significant religious importance, would be completely unacceptable.

This controversy was ignited earlier in the month when Naidu alleged that the use of animal fat in making the laddus occurred during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led administration, which led to a significant political uproar in the state.

Political Tensions and Allegations

The YSR Congress Party responded sharply to Naidu’s claims, accusing him of exploiting religious sentiments for political leverage. This exchange has fueled a heated war of words between the YSR Congress Party and the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh, further intensifying the political landscape.

Meanwhile, officials from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the temple, have reported receiving numerous complaints from pilgrims regarding the poor quality of laddus in recent years. In his report to the state government, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao noted, “It was found that suppliers were providing substandard ghee, which lacked aroma and taste and was potentially adulterated.”

As the Supreme Court prepares to address these critical issues, the outcome of the hearings could have significant implications for the temple’s operations and the ongoing political discourse in Andhra Pradesh.

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