Subramanian Swamy moves Supreme Court over Tirupati Laddu controversy

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy has moved the Supreme Court over the recent controversy where animal fat was found in Tirupati Laddu prasadam served at the revered Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh [Dr Subramanian Swamy v State of Andhra Pradesh and ors].

As per reports, a forensic lab report revealed that animal fat was found in the ghee used to prepare laddus at the Hindu shrine in Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped.

Dr. Swamy has sought formation of a court-monitored committee to look into allegations of substandard ingredients being used to prepare the laddus.

"There ought to have been checks and balances internally to supervise and verify and check the quality or the lack of it, of the suppliers supplying various ingredients the temple which go into the making of the Prasadams," his plea said.

In the interim, he has sought directions to be issued to the State of Andhra Pradesh to file a detailed report on the source and sampling of the ghee used for making the laddu.

Pertinently, Dr. Swamy in his plea has said that the disclosures regarding the test results should not have been leaked to the media but should have been handled first by the temple trust's officers on the administrative side.

"However, the opportunity was seized upon certain individuals to make a political statement," it has been contended.

The Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam's former chairperson and Rajya Sabha member of parliament YV Subba Reddy has also filed a plea in the matter.

Reddy, a YSR Congress party leader, has sought an independent committee look into the case, headed by a retired apex court judge.

That petition has been filed through Advocate Baani Khanna and drawn by Advocate Palak Bishnoi.