New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered an independent probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the allegations of using animal fat in laddoos served as prasad at the Tirupati temple. The SIT will comprise two CBI officers, two state police officials, and a senior officer from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the central food regulator, the court said.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said they do not want political drama over this since it is a matter of faith for crores of devotees across the world. The allegations have the potential of hurting the sentiments of people worldwide, the bench said, but did not go into the political charges.
"We clarify that we have not gone into allegations and counter allegations in either plea. We will not permit the court to be used as a political battleground. To assuage feelings of crores of people, we find that an investigation by an independent SIT consisting of representatives of state police, CBI, and FSSAI, shall be done. We also direct that investigation is under the director of CBI," said Justice Gavai.
The case stems from an allegation by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that animal fat was used in the making of the laddoos at the temple during the previous regime led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.
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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the centre, told the court it was unacceptable since devotees from across the country visit the temple and there are food safety reasons as well.
"Nobody doubts it's a very serious matter if there is substance in allegations," observed Justice Gavai.
After Mr Mehta submitted there was nothing wrong with the state SIT that's probing the charges and it could be supervised by a central officer, the court ordered an independent SIT probe to be carried out under the CBI director.
"FSSAI is the most expert apex body in matters of testing food. We don't want this to turn into political drama. If there is an independent body, there will be confidence," said Justice Gavai.
Chandrababu Naidu last month flagged a report from a government-run lab that said samples from ghee used for making the laddoos at the temple contained traces of beef tallow, fish oil, and pig fat. At least two tankers supplying ghee to the temple were found to be adulterated.
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The charges sparked a massive political controversy with Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan repeatedly calling for a pan-India committee to protect 'sanatan dharma' and even undergoing an 11-day penance.
Former Chief Minister Jagan Reddy had denied the report as "false" and accused Mr Naidu of "using faith for politics".
The temple authorities, meanwhile, have accused their ghee supplier of exploiting the temple's lack of in-house food testing facilities, due to which it was not possible to conduct routine quality checks.
The Tamil Nadu-based dairy firm that had supplied ghee to Tirumala in June and July had claimed that its consignments had cleared lab tests and that it had documents to prove it.