'Where Is Proof That Adulterated Ghee Was Used In Tirupati Laddus? Why Chandrababu Naidu Went To Press?': Supreme Court Asks

Hearing a bunch of petitions filed by three different parties seeking an independent or court-monitored investigation into allegations of adulteration of Tirupati laddus, the Supreme Court questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Justice K V Viswanathan asserted that the report alleging the presence of 'beef tallow, fish oil and lard (pig fat)' is not at all clear and pointed towards the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board's claim that this ghee was never used for the laddus.

"If you had already ordered an investigation, what was the need to go to press? The report came in July and the statement came in September," he said questioning Andhra's ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government.

"This report prima facie indicates that this is NOT the material used in the preparation," Justice Viswanathan further noted, while Justice B R Gavai also questioned why a constitutional office holding CM went to the press.

"We expect Gods to be kept away from polity," Justice Gavai emphasised questioning that when the Andhra Pradesh government is not sure whether the adulterated ghee was used in making laddus, then why it went to the press.

"Where is the proof that this was the ghee used in preparation of laddus?... Nowhere it is clear that it is USED. It is tested, and the report is put in the public domain, PENDING INVESTIGATION," Justice Viswanathan said.

The two-judge bench was hearing petitions filed by senior BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy, Rajya Sabha MP and former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy and historian Dr Vikram Sampath and spiritual discourser Dushyanth Sridhar.