Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh) [India], December 14 : A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrived at the Lord Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati on Saturday morning to inspect the temple kitchen as part of the ongoing investigation into the Tirumala ‘Laddu’ controversy. The team carried out inspections in various sections of the temple, including the kitchen where the sacred Srivari Laddu Prasadam is made, the laboratory for quality testing of the laddus, and the flour mill used in their preparation.
This investigation follows a previous visit by the SIT team over three weeks ago to look into allegations of adulteration of ‘ghee’ used in the sacred prasad. The inquiry is part of an effort to uncover details regarding the alleged adulteration case.
The controversy erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in making the Tirupati laddus during the tenure of the previous YSRCP government. Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI-led investigation, which will include officials from the state police and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
In response to the controversy, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board passed a resolution prohibiting political statements within the Tirumala temple premises, stating that legal action would be taken against violators. The board also decided to write to the Andhra Pradesh government requesting appropriate action regarding non-Hindu employees working in Tirumala. Additionally, the TTD resolved to use higher-quality ghee in the preparation of the iconic Srivari Laddu. These resolutions were made during the first meeting of the TTD Trust Board under the chairmanship of BR Naidu.