Supreme Court Orders New Investigation into Tirupati Laddu Controversy
Supreme Court orders fresh investigation into Tirupati laddu controversy, forming a five-member Special Investigation Team
Supreme Court orders new SIT to investigate Tirupati laddu row, monitored by CBI director
The Supreme Court has initiated a fresh investigation into the Tirupati laddu controversy by establishing a new five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT). This team will comprise officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Andhra Pradesh Police, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
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Composition of the SIT
The SIT will include two members from the CBI, two from the Andhra Pradesh Police, and one from the FSSAI. The Supreme Court has directed that the investigation be monitored by the CBI director to maintain oversight and impartiality.
Avoiding Political Drama
During the proceedings, the bench remarked, “We don’t want this to turn into a political drama.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that if the allegations hold any truth, it would be unacceptable. He proposed that the investigation could be supervised by a senior official from the central government.
Concerns About Public Statements
The Supreme Court had previously questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu regarding his public claim that animal fat was used in making the Tirupati laddus during the regime of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The bench noted that laboratory test results were not clear and indicated the possibility of rejected ghee being tested.
Timeline of Events
The court observed that an FIR was registered on September 25, and an SIT was constituted the following day, September 26. The bench highlighted that Chief Minister Naidu made a public statement about the alleged use of animal fat on September 18, before the FIR was lodged. The bench expressed concerns that such statements from high-ranking officials could influence public sentiment while investigations were ongoing.
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