The Supreme Court is set to hear several petitions on Monday concerning the alleged use of animal fat in the renowned Tirupati laddus, distributed as ‘prasadam’ at the Sri Venkateswara Temple.
The controversy arose after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that animal fat had been used in the laddus during the previous YSR Congress government, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Petitions have been filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and YV Subba Reddy, a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress Party and former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), both calling for a court-monitored investigation.
A bench of Justices B. R. Gavai and K. V. Viswanathan will hear the matter on Monday.
One petition, filed by advocate Satyam Singh, seeks the formation of a judicial committee led by a former Supreme Court judge or a CBI investigation into the alleged “criminal conspiracy and mismanagement” of the TTD Trust.
The plea stated: “A grave violation of religious customs occurred as investigations revealed that non-vegetarian products, including bird meat, animal fat, fish oil, and other impurities, were used in the preparation of ‘prasadam’.”
It added that this act not only violated Hindu religious customs but also deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees who regard the ‘prasadam’ as a sacred offering. The petition emphasised that the situation represents a serious breach of Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to religious freedom.
The Tirumala Tirupati Temple, which holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus worldwide, attracts countless devotees annually seeking blessings and ‘prasadam’, believed to carry Lord Venkateswara’s grace.
Another petition seeks the appointment of a committee under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court or a retired SC judge to investigate allegations of substandard ingredients and animal fat in the ghee used for making the laddus.
Previously, a letter petition had been submitted to Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, urging the Supreme Court's immediate intervention following claims about the use of animal fat in the temple’s offerings during the YSR Congress Party’s administration.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the adulteration of ghee used for making the laddus.
Chief Minister Naidu has promised action based on the SIT’s findings regarding irregularities at the temple, with the government set to hold accountable those responsible for using adulterated ghee in the preparation of ‘prasadam’.
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