New Delhi: The Supreme Court has questioned on what evidence Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu based his statement regarding the use of animal fat in the preparation of Tirupati Laddu. The court expressed the opinion that even deities should be kept out of political disputes and sharply criticized Naidu over the matter. The court’s remarks came while considering petitions seeking an inquiry into the allegations that the laddu was made with adulterated ghee. The bench, consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, inquired about the evidence regarding the use of adulterated ghee in the making of Tirupati laddu.
The court questioned the necessity of issuing a public statement while an inquiry had already been announced. It expressed dissatisfaction with a high constitutional position behaving in such a manner. The court stated, “As the Chief Minister, when holding a constitutional position, we expect you to keep deities out of politics. If there is an inquiry in progress, what was the need to approach the media?”
The court criticized the Chief Minister for making a public statement on a matter that affects millions of devotees before a case was filed and a special investigation team was formed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was instructed by the court to provide an opinion on whether the work of the special investigation team set up by the state government should continue or if an independent agency should conduct the investigation. The petitions will be reconsidered on October 3.
The controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu erupted following Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s allegations that animal fat was mixed in the ghee used to prepare the laddu during the tenure of the Y.S.R. Congress party.
