GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court ordered a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations for the laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.
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The Supreme Court ordered a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations that substandard ghee, allegedly containing animal fat, was used to prepare the famous laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. This order was issued on Friday, October 4.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan ruled that the investigation will be conducted by a newly constituted SIT, which will work under the supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The SIT will include two officers from the CBI, two officers from the Andhra Pradesh State Police, and a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Court stated, "In order to assuage the feelings of crores of devotees, we find that an independent investigation by a new SIT comprising representatives from the State Police, CBI, and FSSAI is necessary."
The new SIT will replace the existing state SIT already investigating the matter. Officers for the new team will be nominated by the CBI director, the Andhra Pradesh government, and the chairman of FSSAI. The CBI director will oversee the investigation.
Reports of animal fat being served in Tirupati laddus were first claimed by the ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, based on a lab-report from a Gujrat-based livestock laboratory.
