Tirupati Laddu row: Gods should be kept away from politics, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday while hearing pleas around the Tirupati Laddu controversy, said gods should be kept away from politics.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan "grilled" Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidufor prematurely going public with the claim that previous regime of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party used substandard ghee containing animal fat to prepare laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, as per a Bar and Bench report.

The SC bench said there was no conclusive proof yet to substantiate such a claim and questioned the need to make a public statement on the issue when a probe had already been ordered by the State into the allegations.


The top court questioned whether there was any material with the CM to conclude definitively that animal fat had been used to prepare laddus at the Hindu shrine in Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped.

SC observed that the ghee sample had been rejected as per reports.

"So what was the need to go to the press at all, when you yourself ordered investigation?" the judge asked.

"At least the Gods should be kept away from politics," the Court said.

The Court also asked whether the laddus, which became basis for the probe, had been sent for testing, Bar and Bench reported. It also said "whether it would not have been more appropriate to test those first before going public."

"It further said that there was no prima facie evidence to show that the ghee in question was used in the process of making laddus."

SC has posted the case for hearing on October 3.

What is Tirupati Laddu controversy?

After a laboratory analysis of samples of cow ghee supplied to the Tirumala temple trust for making its famous Tirupati laddu prasadam during the term of the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh revealed the presence of lard (clarified pig fat), tallow (beef fat) and fish oil, many have voiced the demand for freeing temples from state control and handing them over to Hindu religious bodies.

The contamination of laddus is being seen as a result of state control of the temple. During YSRC's tenure, TTD, which manages the temple complex and comes under control of the state government, had given the ghee supply contract to a private contractor, replacing the ‘Nandini’ brand of ghee, which is a product of Karnataka Milk Federation.

Following the change in supplier, there were several complaints over the quality of the laddus. In June, TDP won the Andhra Pradesh assembly election that was held alongside the Lok Sabha election by a landslide. The same month it appointed senior IAS officer J Syamala Rao as the new executive officer of the TTD. As part of streamlining measures, an inquiry was ordered into the alleged poor quality, taste and texture of the laddus.