• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Supreme Court will today hear several public interest litigations (PILs) seeking its intervention in a case concerning the alleged adulteration of ghee used in making Tirupati temple’s famous laddus with animal fat. A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan will take up the matter, as per the case list published on the apex court's website.

The petition, filed by advocate Satyam Singh, calls for a CBI probe or judicial inquiry led by a former Supreme Court judge into the alleged criminal conspiracy and mismanagement by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust, which oversees the temple's operations.

ALSO READ: Greater Noida: Two Children Among Six Hospitalised After Eating Momos; Vendor Detained 

The petition claims that investigations have revealed the use of animal fat, fish oil, and other non-vegetarian ingredients in the laddu prasad at Tirumala. This act, it states, not only violates Hindu religious customs but also deeply hurts the sentiments of countless devotees. The petition further argues that the adulteration of the prasadam with animal fat constitutes a grave violation of Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion.

Notably, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had previously constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Meanwhile, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has once again questioned the claims made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who alleged that adulterated ghee was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party. On Sunday, the YSRCP chief pointed out that statements from the Executive Officer of the TTD, appointed by Naidu’s own government, contradict the Chief Minister’s claims.

ALSO READ: Cash Strapped Pakistan Cuts 1,50,000 Jobs, Dissolves 6 Ministries As Part Of IMF Deal 

Jagan Mohan referred to the statement made by TTD Rao on July 23. Rao had said that TTD found that the ghee was adulterated with vegetable oil and two tankers were returned.