Tirupati Laddu Row: SC Raps Andhra Govt Over Press Statements, Says ‘Keep Gods Out Of Politics’

Tirupati Laddu Row: The Supreme Court on Monday heard 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. The apex court grilled the counsel appearing for Andhra Pradesh government and the temple board on the need for chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to go to the press and make statement when the lab report prima facie showed that the adulterated ghee was not used and was detected in rejected samples. Notably, CM Naidu had previously constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. "There was no justification for the chief minister to go to the press and make statement," said the apex court.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan further said it expected the “gods to be kept away from polity” from the massive controversy over the world-famous laddus and prasadam.

"You ordered an SIT. Till the outcome, what is the necessity to go to the press? You have been always appearing for such...this is the second time. When you hold constitutional office, it is expected that you would...we expect Gods to be kept away from polity," Justice Gavai asked.

"Unless you were sure, how did you go to public with that? What was the purpose of investigation?" questioned Justice Viswanathan.

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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.

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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.