Laddu Prasad Ghee adulteration case: SC says no doubt on SIT
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted a major relief to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case of adulterated ghee in the famous Tirupati temple's laddu prasad. The court stayed the Andhra Pradesh High Court's order, which stated that the CBI violated the Supreme Court's directives in investigating the matter. A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice B.R. Gavai heard the case on Friday. During the hearing, CJI Gavai said, "If the SIT wants to appoint a special officer to investigate, what is wrong with that?" The court also clarified that there is no doubt about the members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
What did the High Court say?
The Andhra Pradesh High Court stated in its order that the CBI Director did not follow the Supreme Court's 2024 directives during the investigation into the adulterated ghee in the Tirupati laddu prasad. The High Court stated that the CBI Director handed over the investigation to an officer named J. Venkat Rao, who was not part of the SIT. The High Court considered this a violation of the Supreme Court's orders. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, argued that the High Court's finding that the officer involved in the investigation had not been officially designated as a member of the SIT was incorrect. Mehta stated that the CBI had committed no wrongdoing in the investigation.
The CBI was directed to file a reply.
The Supreme Court accepted the CBI's appeal and stayed the High Court's order. The court directed the CBI to file its reply in the matter. The Supreme Court also asked whether the SIT had stopped its work. The CJI asked, "Can't some work be assigned to another officer?" The court clarified that the SIT's functioning was not being questioned. At the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, allegations of adulterated ghee being used in the prasadam laddus offered to the deity were raised. This case had sparked a nationwide uproar, as the Tirupati laddus are associated with the faith of millions of devotees.
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