'Court Can't Be Used For Politics': In Tirupati Laddoo Row, SC Orders Probe Under CBI Supervision

The Supreme Court on Friday reconstituted the SIT, ordered by the Andhra Pradesh government to look into Tirupati laddoos row, and said the probe should be conducted under the supervision of the CBI director.

The apex court also said it will not permit the court to be used as “political background” while clarifying that it has not gone into allegations and counter-allegations in the matter.

The SC said that the SIT will have two officers of Andhra Police, two nominated by the CBI Director and one from FSSAI.  The Justice BR Gavai-led bench also said its order does not cast aspersions on the faith in the officers of the SIT, constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government.

The apex court was hearing a clutch of petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in Tirupati laddoos.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the SC’s order, said, “I welcome the Honourable Supreme Court’s order of setting up SIT, comprising officers from CBI, AP Police and FSSAI to investigate the issue of adulteration of Tirupati laddu. Satyamev Jayate. Om Namo Venkatesaya.”

In the previous hearing, SG Mehta was asked to obtain instructions if the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Andhra Pradesh Police should be allowed to probe the controversy or if the investigation be handed over to an independent agency.

The Andhra Pradesh Police have temporarily stalled the SIT probe into the alleged adulteration of Tirupati laddoo after the matter came under the top court’s scanner.

The Supreme Court, in the first hearing held on Monday, observed that there was prima facie nothing to show that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoos during the previous, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP regime in Andhra Pradesh.  “We are, prima facie, of the view that it was not appropriate on the part of a high constitutional functionary to go in public to make a statement which can affect the sentiment of crores of people and when investigation to find out adulterated ghee was used to make laddoos, was underway,” the Supreme Court said.