Supreme Court orders fresh SIT investigation into Tirupati laddu 'animal fat' row

The Supreme Court of India has ordered the formation of a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations related to the use of animal fats in laddu served at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.

The Supreme Court of India has ordered the formation of a new independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations related to the use of animal fat in laddu served at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.

Composition of the SIT

The court suggested a five-member SIT, comprising two members from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), two from the state government and an expert from the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Court’s concerns over political implications

During the listening to, Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan highlighted the want for a obvious research to mitigate the feelings of millions who preserve religion in the deity related to the laddus. The bench said, “We don’t want this to be changed into a political drama,” underscoring the want for sensitivity round the issue.

"We clarify that we will not permit the court to be used as a political battleground. However, in order to assuage the feelings of crores of people, we find that the investigation should be conducted by an independent SIT consisting of representatives of the state police, the CBI and a representative of the FSSAI," the bench said.

Background of the controversy

The political controversy ignited while Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fats changed into utilized in making the laddus all through the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy administration. The ruling YSR Congress Party spoke back via accusing Naidu of making baseless claims for political gain, even as the Telugu Desam Party circulated laboratory reviews assisting their allegations.

Court’s emphasis on objectivity

During the hearing, the Supreme Court emphasised the need for an impartial inquiry and voiced its opinion to avoid political drama. The court expressed confidence that an independent panel would ensure public confidence in the review process.

Background of the case

The hearing initiated in response to a series of petitions seeking a court-supervised inquiry into serious allegations of prasad preparation at the temple has attracted a lot of attention to the issue, causing distress over food safety and religious practices.

Chief Minister’s allegations spark debate

The issue stems from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s public statement on the former Y.S. Government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy. The statement triggered a political debate, with the YSR Congress party accusing Naidu of making unsubstantiated allegations for political gain.

Supreme Court questions Chief Minister’s timing

In an earlier hearing on September 30, the Supreme Court referred to Naidu's public statement that it came before the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) before filing an official FIR and ordered caution on politically charged cases.

Legal considerations

The FIR was filed on September 25 and the SIT was constituted the next day. The court expressed concern about the results of the laboratory tests, suggesting that the tests may have been conducted on “rejected butter” rather than the actual samples in question. The court is now deliberating whether the SIT should continue its probe or an independent body should take over the probe.

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