The Supreme Court stated that the SIT will include two CBI officers, two state police officials, and a senior representative from FSSAI.
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The Supreme
Court of India has directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT)
to independently probe the claims that animal fat was allegedly used in the
preparation of laddoos offered as prasad at the Tirupati temple. This SIT will
consist of two officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), two
state police officers, and a senior officer from the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI), the national food regulatory body.
A bench
comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan emphasized that they did not
want this sensitive issue, which deeply impacts the faith of millions of
devotees globally, to be politicized. The court noted that the accusations have
the potential to hurt religious sentiments worldwide but refrained from delving
into the political discourse surrounding the matter.
In their
judgment, Justice Gavai clarified that the court was not addressing the
allegations and counter-allegations raised by either party in the case. The
focus, according to the bench, was to prevent the court from becoming a venue
for political confrontations and ensure the investigation is impartial and
credible. "To alleviate the concerns of millions of people, we are
directing an investigation by an independent SIT that includes members of the
state police, CBI, and FSSAI," said Justice Gavai. He further specified
that the investigation would proceed under the supervision of the CBI director.
The
controversy originated from allegations made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
Chandrababu Naidu, who claimed that during the previous government, led by
Jagan Mohan Reddy, animal fat was used in the laddoos served at the temple.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, pointed
out to the court that these claims were deeply concerning, given that the
temple is a major pilgrimage site attracting devotees from across the country.
He also highlighted the need for food safety to be strictly maintained.
Justice
Gavai acknowledged the gravity of the issue, stating that if the allegations
proved true, it would indeed be a serious matter. Despite the argument from Mr.
Mehta that a state-level SIT had already been conducting an investigation, with
the possibility of supervision by a central authority, the court opted for a
fully independent SIT under the CBI's oversight.
Justice
Gavai reiterated that FSSAI, being the highest authority on food safety, would
lend credibility to the investigation. He also expressed the court's intention
to avoid the issue from escalating into a political controversy. "We don't
want this matter to spiral into political theatrics. An independent probe will
instill confidence," Justice Gavai added.
The
allegations gained attention after Chandrababu Naidu brought forth a report
from a government laboratory indicating that samples of ghee used in the
laddoos contained traces of beef tallow, fish oil, and pig fat. It was reported
that at least two tankers supplying ghee to the temple were found to be adulterated.
This revelation sparked a significant political uproar, with Deputy Chief
Minister Pawan Kalyan calling for a nationwide panel to safeguard the
"sanatan dharma" and even engaging in an 11-day penance in response
to the controversy.
Meanwhile,
former Chief Minister Jagan Reddy dismissed the allegations as baseless and
accused Naidu of exploiting religious faith for political gain. Temple
officials also stated that their regular ghee supplier had taken advantage of
the temple’s lack of food testing facilities, which hampered their ability to
conduct routine quality assessments.
The Tamil
Nadu-based dairy company, which supplied ghee to the temple during June and
July, maintained that their consignments had passed laboratory tests and that
they had the necessary documentation to validate the purity of their product.