The Andhra Pradesh government has paused the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) probe into alleged ghee adulteration in Tirupati laddus until the Supreme Court's next hearing on October 3.
This decision follows the Supreme Court's criticism of the state for publicly claiming that animal fat was used in the laddus without conclusive evidence.
Andhra Pradesh police chief Dwaraka Tirumala Rao stated that halting the investigation was a "precautionary measure" to protect its integrity. He noted that the SIT had conducted preliminary inspections and recorded several statements before pausing the probe.
The investigation had included an inspection of the flour mill in Tirumala where the ghee is stored before being used in the laddus.
An FIR was registered on September 25, and the SIT was formed the next day. However, the Supreme Court found no prima facie evidence that contaminated ghee was used in making the prasadam, with the bench questioning why the state had gone public with the claim.
The controversy arose when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that beef tallow, lard, and fish oil were found in the ghee during the previous YSRCP government, based on a lab report.
Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy denied these accusations. The Supreme Court has hinted that the case may be transferred to an independent agency, emphasising that politics should not interfere with matters of faith.
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