The Supreme Court received a new Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Tuesday, filed by social activist K A Paul, president of the ‘Global Peace Initiative’. The PIL calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
This fresh PIL adds to the list of four other petitions currently under consideration by a bench led by Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. The controversy gained traction following a public allegation by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu that substandard ingredients, including adulterated ghee, were used in these sacred offerings.
During a session on September 30, the Supreme Court remarked on the need to keep deities out of political disputes and highlighted ambiguities in a lab test report that suggested the ghee used might not have been the ghee actually utilized in the laddus. “It is very clear from the report that this is not the Ghee which has been used. Unless you are sure, how did you go public with that?” questioned the bench.
Paul’s petition emphasizes the significance of the Laddu Prasadam, a revered offering at one of the largest Hindu pilgrimage sites, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. He argued that the allegations have not only caused distress among devotees but have also potentially violated fundamental religious rights protected under Article 25 of the Constitution.
The plea further addresses the potential communal tensions stirred by these allegations, stressing the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the Tirupati laddus. “Any compromise on its sanctity not only affects millions of devotees but also tarnishes the reputation of this institution,” Paul stated, asserting that his petition aims to protect the religious traditions from political and corrupt influences.
The claim by CM Naidu about the use of animal fat has sparked a heated political debate, with the YSR Congress Party accusing him of using “heinous allegations” for political leverage. In response, the ruling Telugu Desam Party circulated a lab report to support their claims, fueling the ongoing controversy.
