SIT hits pause on Tirupati laddu probe, top cop cites Supreme Court order

Andhra Pradesh DGP C Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said: “The SC has, in its order on Monday, directed the SIT not to go ahead with its investigation until further orders, which will be followed and the investigation has been stopped.’’ The next hearing of the case in the Supreme Court is on Thursday.

An official told The Indian Express that the SIT has so far only tried to understand the procurement process, bidding, terms and conditions, and the specifications of the quality of ghee demanded by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the temple.

On Monday, the Supreme Court had questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that adulterated ghee containing animal fat was used to make laddus at the temple during the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government. The court said it “expected Gods to be kept away from politics”.

However, after the SC observations, the national spokesperson of Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), K Pattabhi Ram, said: “We stand by everything we have said before. Adulterated ghee was used to prepare Tirupati laddus.”

On September 25, CM Naidu had announced that a thorough investigation was required as the sanctity of the temple and the various offerings to the deity were compromised. He said that the SIT would investigate various angles, like procurement of ghee at extremely low prices, which allegedly led to adulteration, and alleged misuse of power to change rules and regulations in procurement of various raw materials for the temple.

On the evening of September 18, while addressing the NDA legislature party meeting at Amaravati on the occasion of completing 100 days in power, the Chief Minister had alleged that the previous YSRCP regime used adulterated ghee, containing animal fats, to prepare the famous laddus.