Andhra Govt Suspends Probe Into Tirupati Laddoo ‘Adulteration’ Case Till October 3

New Delhi: A day after drawing flak from Supreme Court, the Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday suspended its probe into alleged adulteration in Balaji Tirupati prasadam laddoo until October 3, the next date for hearing in the case.

“SIT investigation will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court. The SIT was formed to investigate the Tirupati Laddoo prasadam case and the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation’s integrity,” news agency ANI quoted director general of police (DGP)  Dwaraka Tirumala Rao as saying.

The Supreme Court on Monday found various loopholes in the way the Chandrababu Naidu government raised the issue of adulterated ghee used in the prasadam. It said there was prima facie nothing to prove that contaminated ghee was used to prepare the laddoo at the temple.

Hearing a batch of four petitions, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and K V Viswanathan said prasadam was not sent for test but a sample of rejected ghee was tested. The bench repeatedly asked the state government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to show evidence that contaminated ghee was used to make laddoos.

“There are some disclaimers in the lab report. It is not clear at all. It says rejected ghee was subjected to the test. If you yourself have ordered an investigation, what was the need to go to the press? The report came in July and the statement was made in September. The report says that was not the material used for prasadam,” the bench said.

The SC sought replies from the state government and TTD on how they came to the conclusion that contaminated ghee was used to prepare prasadam.

Appearing for TTD, senior advocate Luthra said devotees had complained about a change in the taste of the prasadam and some controversies around it, warranting a lab test.