Bansri Shah, Pune
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a fresh probe into the controversy over the Tirupati laddu, forming a new five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe it. The Order stated that the present State SIT conducting investigations into the case be superseded by a new SIT.
Officers that will be a part of this team will be nominated officers from the director of the CBI, two officers from Andhra Pradesh State Police appointed by the State and a senior officer from FSSAI selected by its chairman. Clarifying that its order should not be misconstrued as a critical remark about the independence or fairness of the previous SIT, the Bench said the investigation is being transferred to the new team simply for reassurance of millions of devotees who have faith in the deity.
A Bench led by Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan said that they don’t want the new Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Mr. Naidu, and the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to turn the Supreme Court into a “political battleground”.
On Friday, October 4, 2024, the court involved the Centre, stating that it should also play a role in uncovering the truth behind the allegations made by Chandrababu Naidu. In addition to including the CBI in the investigation, the Bench placed the probe directly under the supervision of the CBI Director.
The controversy began with allegations that animal fat mixed with ghee was used in the preparation of laddus at the Hindu shrine in Andhra Pradesh, which houses Lord Venkateswara.
In the previous hearings, the Bench had cross-questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for publicly accusing the former Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party government of using substandard ghee containing animal fat. The Court noted that there was no conclusive evidence to substantiate such claims and had asked whether the Chief Minister had any concrete material to make such a definitive statement.
However, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the Andhra Pradesh government, said there was incontrovertible evidence that lard was used. He clarified that the Chief Minister had made the statement while marking the completion of 100 days of the government. Mr Rohatgi sought to defend his client when the Bench responded to the Chief Minister’s alleged hastiness to conduct a press conference, saying the media quoted Mr Naidu out of context.