Viral video shows mice on Siddhivinayak Temple prasad packets amid Tirupati laddus controversy, trust denies

A video circulating on social media purportedly shows mice on prasad packets from the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, raising health concerns among devotees. The temple’s management, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust (SSGT), has denied the allegations and initiated an investigation.

Response from Temple Trust

Shiv Sena leader and SSGT chairperson Sada Sarvankar addressed the claims during a press interaction on Tuesday. He emphasized, "Lakhs of laddus are distributed daily, and the place they are prepared is clean. The video shows a dirty place. I can see it is not of the temple and has been shot somewhere outside." The video in question features mice on torn packets of laddus displayed in a blue tray.

Sarvankar stated that the temple would review CCTV footage to identify the source of the video. He assured that an officer of DCP rank would oversee the inquiry, pledging that appropriate action would be taken against anyone found guilty.

Assurance of Quality Control

At a press conference earlier, Sarvankar reiterated the temple's commitment to food safety. He mentioned that the ingredients used for the prasad, including ghee and cashews, undergo rigorous testing at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's lab before use. "This means we pay full attention to ensure that the prasad given to devotees is pure," he remarked.

Ongoing Controversy

The video surfaced amid an ongoing dispute concerning Tirupati laddus. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently accused the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government of using substandard ingredients and animal fat in the famous laddus. The temple trust is determined to address the situation and maintain the integrity of its prasad offerings.

(Inputs from PTI)