The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by K A Paul, a social activist and president of the ‘Global Peace Initiative,’ which sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of animal fat usage in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the tenure of the previous Andhra Pradesh government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan were succinct in their dismissal of the plea, which they perceived as overreaching. “Going by your prayer, we will have to create separate states for all temples, gurudwaras, etc. We can’t direct that a separate state be created for a particular religion. Dismissed,” the bench stated.
The allegations initially surfaced with claims from N Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, asserting that substandard and adulterated ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the sacred offering’s production under the previous government, sparking a substantial controversy. These claims led to communal tensions and raised significant concerns among the devotees about the sanctity of the revered laddu prasadam at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus worldwide.
Responding to the escalating dispute and to “assuage the feelings of crores of people,” the Supreme Court had earlier mandated the formation of a five-member independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) on October 4. This team includes two officers each from the CBI and the Andhra Pradesh Police, as well as a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Paul’s petition highlighted the violation of fundamental religious rights protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom to practice and propagate religion. He expressed concerns that political manipulation and corruption could undermine the traditions held sacred by millions.
The ruling YSR Congress Party has defended against the allegations, criticizing the opposition Telugu Desam Party for using what it calls “heinous allegations” for political leverage. The latter has circulated a laboratory report to support its claims, further intensifying the political drama surrounding the issue.
