The Supreme Court has rejected a public interest litigation that called for a CBI investigation into the supposed use of animal fat in Tirupati laddus.
The Supreme Court today rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) that called for a CBI investigation into claims of animal fat being used in the making of Tirupati laddus during the previous administration of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. A bench led by Justice B R Gavai and Justice K V Viswanathan dismissed the request from K A Paul, a social activist and head of the ‘Global Peace Initiative’ organization. The bench remarked, “If we grant your request, we would need to create separate states for all temples and gurudwaras. We cannot establish a separate state for one religion. Dismissed.” Paul’s plea aimed for a thorough investigation by the CBI into alleged corruption and mismanagement related to the procurement and preparation of the Laddu Prasadam.
On October 4, the Supreme Court had formed a five-member independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the claims of animal fat in Tirupati laddus, aiming to “calm the feelings of millions” while emphasizing that the court should not be a “political battleground.” The SIT will include two officers from the CBI, two from the Andhra Pradesh Police, and a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Paul’s PIL highlighted concerns raised by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu regarding the use of substandard ingredients, including adulterated ghee, in the preparation of ‘Laddu Prasadam’, which has alarmed devotees and compromised the sanctity of this holy offering.
The petition highlighted increasing community tensions and the breach of essential religious rights, referencing Article 25 of the Constitution, which ensures the freedom to practice and spread religion. “The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is a major site for Hindus globally. The Laddu Prasadam is deeply important for all Hindus, both religiously and culturally. Any threat to its purity impacts millions of worshippers and damages the reputation of this institution. I submitted this petition to protect the devotees and to prevent political interference and corruption from harming our sacred traditions,” Paul stated. The Chief Minister alleged that animal fat was used in making Tirupati laddus during the Jagan Mohan Reddy administration, sparking a significant political controversy. The YSR Congress Party accused Naidu of making “serious allegations” for political advantage, while the ruling Telugu Desam Party in the state shared a lab report to support its position.
