Plea in SC for SIT probe into Tirupati laddu row

Amid allegations of use of animal fat in Tirupati laddus at Sri Venkatswara Swamy Temple managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the controversy.

Petitioner Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and president of the Hindu Sena, contended by serving “laddu prasadam” prepared using animal fat instead of ghee to devotees at the temple, the TTD has ridiculed the Hindu religion.

Yadav submitted the allegation of using animal fat in preparing “laddu prasadam” has shaken the conscience of the Hindu community and outraged the religious feelings and sentiments of its members.

“The petition has been filed for the benefit of the public in general, which may be incapable of accessing the court themselves on account of being not fully/properly equipped, financially as well as legally, and thus, in no position to resort to the remedy of PIL,” the plea said.

This is the second petition in the top court on the issue. Earlier, Sudarshan News Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke had filed a letter petition through advocate Satyam Singh Rajpoot seeking the intervention of CJI Chandrachud.

“This is a criminal conspiracy which resulted from mismanagement. What emerges has deeply hurt Hindu sentiments,” Rajpoot told reporters on Friday, demanding a probe into the issue.

Health Minister JP Nadda has also sought a report on the matter from the Andhra Pradesh Government and promised suitable action after examining it.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claim that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in the southern state has triggered a massive political row, with the YSR Congress Party accusing Naidu of indulging in “heinous allegations” for political gains and the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the state circulating a laboratory report to back its claim.