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

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has initiated a public interest litigation before the Supreme Court seeking investigation by a Court-monitored committee into the allegations levelled by TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government regarding use of adulterated ghee in preparation of laddus at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the previous YSRCP regime.

Besides praying for the appointment of a Committee, Swamy has sought direction for a detailed report from the authorities on the forensics of the ghee sample used by the concerned lab (including its source).

"In the light of the severe political rebuttal and also in the light of the aggravated sense of hurt in the minds of the crores of worshippers of Lord Venkateshwara, and a propaganda, completely insensitive to the nature of the present fact situation, by leaking to the media houses, the contents of a lab report, the Petitioner prays for a committee under the monitoring of this Court/or under a Retd. Judge of this Hon'ble Court to be formed", the petition states.

As per Swamy, the issue ought to have been dealt with within the confines of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). However, it was politicized and made a propaganda out of, causing deep hurt to crores of worshippers of Lord Venkateshwara.

"the opportunity was seized upon certain individuals to make a political statement out of the said apparent piece of information which which was not in the public domain as on the hour of disclosure."

On the allegations of adulteration of the laddus, it is pointed out that TTD is also responsible to maintain checks and balances on the quality and ingredients of the laddus/prasadam.

"...in a structure such as the TTD functioning as it did from time and immemorial, there ought to have been checks and balances internally to supervise and verify and check the quality or the lack of it, of the suppliers supplying various ingredients the temple which go into the making of the Prasadams."

It is further Swamy's case that if the quality of supplies tendered for preparation of prasadam/laddus falls below the prescribed standard, the material is returned to the supplier with a condition that they comply with the prescribed norms. Statedly, a sample is taken from the trucks carrying cow ghee when they arrive at the temple/complex, and only if the test report matches with the specifications in the tender, the said ghee is used for making 'prasadam'. Failing the test, the truck is denied entry.

Pertinently, Swamy has included in his petition certain questions which can be gone into by the proposed Committee:

- Was the sampling done/procured by the lab-testing agency?

- Was the sample of ghee taken from the ghee which was used in the offerings or from the rejected lot of samples?

- Which supplier was concerned with procurement of the said adulterated ghee?

- Whether the said report has scope for a false positive result?

- When was or whether the said ghee procured or rejected after internal testing of the Respondent No.3(TTD)?

- Whether any political intervention should be permissible in releasing such reports and not be the TTD?

To recapitulate, the controversy arises out of a lab report made public by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, as per which, samples of ghee supplied to Tirupati temple for preparation of laddus during the term of the previous YSRCP government were found to contain foreign fats (including beef fat and fish oil).

In the wake of the controversy, Andhra Pradesh CM recently announced a Special Investigation Team for conducting probe. Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan began an 11-day penance to Lord Venkateswara. Reportedly, TTD is also performing a 'shanti homam' ritual to counter the "sinful effects" of the use of tainted ingredients.

In related news, another petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an investigation by a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or a retired High Court Chief Justice into the matter. The petitioner in the said case is Suresh Khanderao Chavhanke, Editor of Sudarshan News TV. He argues that the use of non-vegetarian ingredients in the prasadam violated the fundamental rights of devotees under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs in matters of religion.

Through his petition, Chavhanke has also sought the appointment of a retired Supreme Court Judge or High Court Chief Justice to oversee the management of temples and shrines to ensure transparency and adherence to religious customs.

Case Title: Dr Subramanian Swamy v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Others