Supreme Court orders fresh probe into Tirupati laddu row, forms 5-member SIT

Tirupati laddu row: The Supreme Court on Friday, October 4, ordered the formation of an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations about the use of adulterated ghee and other substandard materials in the making of laddus offered as prasadam at Tirumala Tirupati Temple.
LiveLaw reported that the SIT will consist of two officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI), whom the CBI director will nominate. The state government would nominate two other officers of the Andhra Pradesh State Police and a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan has been hearing a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into the controversy relating to Tirupati laddus. The last hearing was held on September 30, where the court had sought for a Central investigation, after criticising Chandrababu Naidu’s comments.
Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision of forming a five-member SIT. Noting that they “do not have any issue” with the recent decision, TDP spokesperson Pattabhiram Kommareddy said that the government’s aim was to bring out the “culprits”
“Crores of Hindus across the globe are demanding to put those people (culprits) behind bars and give them stringent punishment because they have played with their sentiments,” TDP spokesperson said, reported PTI.
In addition, the Supreme Court also added that the CBI Director will monitor the SIT investigation. The Court further clarified that it is passing the order to assuage the feelings of the lakhs of devotees of the Tirumala temple deity.
“Both are warring groups…lakhs of devotees’ faith involved,” observed BR Gavai, according to LiveLaw while hearing the matter. The bench further asserted that it would not allow the court to be used as a “political battleground”.
Right at the beginning of the case, Solicitor General of India(SG), Tushar Mehta had observed that it would be ‘unacceptable’ if any amount of truth were to be found in the allegations that ‘beef tallow’, ‘fish oil’ and other substandard ingredients have been used in the making of the prasadam.
The SG observed that while the present members of the Special Investigation Team constituted by the State Government were competent and independent, they could, however, be monitored by Central Government officials.