Adulterated Ghee Not Used For Tirupati Laddus, Ex-TTD Chairman Tells Supreme Court; Seeks Probe Into Andhra CM's Allegations

In the wake of the Tirupati Temple laddu controversy, Rajya Sabha MP and ex-TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy has approached the Supreme Court with a PIL seeking independent investigation by a Court-monitored Committee, or by a retired judge of the Court alongwith domain experts, into the allegations of adulteration of the Tirupati laddus.

Besides the above, Reddy seeks a direction to the respondent-authorities for preparation of a report regarding "the detailed-forensics of the lab-report and the source of Ghee used in that report as sampling and source of precurement with all additional details".

The ex-TTD Chairman says that as per standard operating procedure in Tirumala, the moment any cow ghee carrying vehicle arrives at the temple complex/premises, the concerned officer draws sample from the said tank/vehicle and conducts basic test. If the test reports match with the specification given in the tender document, then only the said cow ghee would be used for preparation of prasadams including Laddu Prasadams, otherwise the said vehicle is sent back without any relaxation.

"Therefore, it is incorrect to state or allege that any such ghee is USED for preparation of any prasadam for lord Venkateswara", the plea states.

Questioning the allegations, Reddy draws attention to an interview given by the Executive Officer of TTD to The Print, where he reportedly stated "That ghee was never used, 100 percent...”. He also illustrates some of the changes brought during the previous YSRCP government for purification of the ghee used at Tirupati temple:

i. One Mr Srinivasa Swamy retired scientist from CFTRI to look after the TTD laboratory. Earlier Laboratory was looked after by Health Officer who was not competent and not having knowledge to run the laboratory.

ii. Increased the strength of technicians to 12 and trained them in reputed institutes to improve the skill for testing all items procured by TTD;

iii. Collection of samples from suppliers and testing in lab has been revised to avoid any vested interest and collusion with supplier;

iv. Lab has been upgraded with necessary civil works, air conditioning as well as equipment/instruments;

v. Held meeting with the Chairman, FSSAI, GOI for upgradation of Lab to have all testing facilities;

vi. Held meeting with Director NDDB to provide testing facility to detect adulteration in the Ghee and to establish Centre of excellence for production good quality cows with 46.5 crores. The project at the advance stage.

vii. Board approved a proposal in August, 2023 allocating 4.5 crores to upgrade the lab;

viii. About 550 best Desi cows procured on donation basis to produce ghee in TTD's Gaushala (required for preparation of various Prasadams to Lord Venkateswara);

ix. Improved Gaushala in Tirumala by enclosing 8 acres of land with fencing.

The petition impleads Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu and states that his remarks on the use of animal fat in the Tirumala Laddu prasadam has disturbed sentiments of large number of devotees of Lord Venkateswara.

"The said allegations made in the capacity of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh about foreign substances being mixed into the ghee used in Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy's sacred offering / prasadam "Laddu" have been deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of the Hindu devotees and Hindu Community. His actions have caused irreparable damage to the sanctity, reputation and faith in the temple."

It is further alleged that there is a discrepancy in the statements of the TTD and the Andhra CM, and if the lab reports in question were obtained in July, 2024, the state government was silent for more than 2 months.

"to the best of knowledge of the Petitioner, on July 23, 2024, the present Executive Officer i.e., the Respondent No. 3 announced that vegetable fats like vanaspati were detected in the ghee supplied to Tirumala. Two months later, the Respondent No. 4 at a political meeting, claimed that animal fat was found in the prasadam, causing panic in the Hindu Community. There is a discrepancy between statements of the Respondent No. 3 and Respondent No. 4. The Respondents have obtained the lab reports in the month of July 2024 however they were silent for more than two months."

The Petition is filed by Baani Khanna, AOR and drawn by Ms. Palak Bishnoi, Advocate.

Tirupati Laddu Issue : 'Was There Internal Testing By TTD? Was Ghee Sample Taken From Rejected Lot?' Subramanian Swamy Approaches Supreme Court

Case Title: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBA REDDY VERSUS THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND OTHERS