 to conduct a probe into allegations of the use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus.){kind=link}
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh State in India, N Chandrababu Naidu had accused the previous government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fats, in the “Laddus” (Sweets) served at the sacred temple. These allegations caused widespread outrage, deeply affecting the religious sentiments of millions of devotees across the globe.
Presently, in this regard, the Supreme Court has forwarded a decision to constitute an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a probe into allegations of the use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus.
Devotees have expressed support for this move. It is said that the state government’s priority is to uncover the truth. It wants to hold accountable all those who have tampered with the sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara Swamy.
According to a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan of the Supreme Court of India, the ‘SIT’ would include two officers each from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Andhra Pradesh Police, along with a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The probe will be overseen by the director of the CBI.
It is also noted that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the Sri Venkateswara temple, has now begun sourcing pure cow ghee for the preparation of laddus. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will establish a lab at Tirumala to ensure there is no adulteration in the ingredients.
People have expressed hope that the SIT would conduct a swift and thorough investigation. It is considered that it would be appropriate for the investigation to be carried out under the supervision of a senior officer.
It clarified that the Bench has not gone into the allegations and counter allegations in either of the petitions or the stand of the respondent. It is in order not to permit the court to be used as a political battleground. Considering the feelings of the crores of people having faith in the deity world across, the decision is taken as such.
The “Laddu Prasadam” controversy erupted when the present ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led government in Andhra Pradesh had raised doubts. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu made the lab reports public that alleged the laddus offered to the deity, before being distributed daily among Tirupati temple devotees, were contaminated with animal and vegetable fat.
As per reliable sources, the Solicitor General representing the Centre forwarded, “If there is any element of truth in this allegation, it is unacceptable… The devotees are spread across the world. Food Safety Act is also involved… I did not find anything against the members of the SIT. They are competent and qualified to do their job. Let them be supervised by some senior officer of the central government police force, who is senior to members of the SIT. There will be an all-India perspective… that would inspire confidence and the investigation can go on.”
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