Laddoo Ghee controversy in Tirupati: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy approaches Supreme Court demanding court-supervised investigation into adulteration issue

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding a court-supervised inquiry into allegations that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati Laddus.

In his plea, Swamy asked the Andhra Pradesh government to submit a comprehensive report on the origin and testing of the ghee used in the laddoos. He also requested the court to issue an interim order to get a thorough forensic analysis by the relevant authorities.

The petition highlighted the need for strict internal checks and balances to ensure the quality of ingredients supplied to the temple for making prasadams. “There should have been adequate monitoring to check the quality of the suppliers of the various ingredients,” the plea said.

Swamy reached out to X to share details of his petition and wrote, “Today I have filed a PIL requesting the Supreme Court to investigate the baseless allegations made by CM CB Naidu regarding the adulteration of the prasadam of Tirupati Tirumala Temple with animal flesh and other tainted products, which has led to considerable unrest among the devotees.”

In another development, former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), YV Subba Reddy, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, has approached the Supreme Court seeking an inquiry by an independent committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The controversy erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati Laddus during the tenure of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. This claim sparked a heated political row, with the YSR Congress Party accusing Naidu of making “heinous allegations” for political reasons. In response, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) circulated a laboratory report to substantiate its claims.

On September 20, two days after the allegations came to light, TTD Managing Director J. Shyamala Rao held a press conference to announce that laboratory tests had found animal fat and lard in the samples examined. She added that the board was in the process of blacklisting the supplier responsible for supplying the “adulterated” ghee.