Supreme Court Orders New SIT Probe into Tirupati Laddu Adulteration Allegations

The Supreme Court has set up a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of animal fat use in Tirupati's prasadam. Andhra Pradesh's opposition YSRCP sees this as a setback for CM Chandrababu Naidu's TDP. The SIT includes members from CBI, AP Police, and FSSAI.

The Supreme Court of India has ordered the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine serious allegations of adulteration in the prasadam offered at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. The charges specifically concern the use of animal fat in the famous laddus, a claim that has stirred significant public emotion.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed approval of the court's decision, acknowledging it in a post on X as a vital step towards ensuring transparency and justice. However, the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) interpreted the move as a blow to the TDP government, criticizing Naidu and suggesting that the court's intervention indicated a deficiency in the previous investigation conducted by state authorities.

The court's formation of a new SIT involves officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Andhra Pradesh state police, and an expert from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). With oversight by the CBI director, this newly constituted body aims to deliver an unbiased and comprehensive investigation, replacing the earlier SIT set up by the state government. The Supreme Court emphasized that its decision should not be seen as a critique of the prior SIT's credibility but rather an enhancement of public trust.

(With inputs from agencies.)