Panel set up Andhra Pradesh govt to investigate Tirumala laddu controversy gets SC go-ahead

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to interfere with Andhra Pradesh government's decision to appoint a one-member committee to review administrative lapses in the Tirumala laddu controversy. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant dismissed a plea filed by former MP Subramanian Swamy challenging the AP government's decision to appoint a one-member panel.

The bench found no force in Swamy's contention that the move undermined the authority of the SIT constituted earlier by the Supreme Court to probe irregularities surrounding the famed Tirumala laddus. "Such an administrative inquiry cannot be called as overlapping with the criminal proceedings, which culminated in the filing of the chargesheet and supplementary chargesheet. There is no conflict of interest or overlapping and the scope of investigation/enquiry, having been well demarcated, we are satisfied that the apprehension expressed by the petitioner does not have a sufficient foundation," the bench said.

The top court further ordered that both processes must continue strictly in accordance with the law. Representing the Andhra Pradesh government, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra argued that Swamy's plea was aimed at delaying administrative action.


Solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed the bench that the SIT has completed its investigation and has filed its final report. Mehta added that as per the CBI manual, if during the investigation, administrative lapses are found, which are not connected with the criminal matter, then they must be intimated to the state government. The SIT found some administrative lapses and the state's committee is looking into that, the solicitor general added.