Tirupati Laddu Row: Supreme Court Forms Independent SIT To Probe Ghee Adulteration Allegations, Monitored By CBI Director

The Supreme Court on Friday (4 October) constituted an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT), replacing the SIT formed by the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government to investigate the Tirupati laddus case.

The case stems from allegations by AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that animal fat was found in ghee used to make Tirupati laddus when the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was in power from 2019 to 2024.

The SIT will be comprised of two officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), appointed by the CBI Director and two officers from the Andhra Pradesh State Police, selected by the state government.

It will also have a senior representative from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Monitored by the CBI director, the SIT will inspire confidence due to its independence, the court said.

The Court emphasised that its decision was made to address the sentiments of the millions of devotees of the Tirumala temple deity and should not be interpreted as casting doubt on the integrity of the current SIT formed by the state government.

It also clarified that no conclusions have been drawn regarding the validity of the allegations or counter-allegations in the case. "We make it clear that the Court will not be allowed to serve as a platform for political disputes," the order stated.

The two-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan pronounced this order on a bunch of petitions seeking an independent or court-monitored investigation into allegations of ghee adulteration.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed his confidence in the current members of the SIT formed by the AP government but suggested that the investigation could be overseen by officials from the Central Government for further assurance.

Notably, the AP SIT had suspended its probe on 1 October, waiting for the Supreme Court order. Earlier, it visited various places of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, the procurement area and the sample collection area.