Andhra Govt Forms Team to Investigate Tirupati Laddu

In response to the controversy surrounding the presence of animal fat in Tirupati laddus, the Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a 9-member Special Investigation Team (SIT). This team will investigate the alleged adulteration of ghee used in preparing the famous Tirumala Venkanna laddu. The SIT will be led by Guntur Range Inspector General of Police, Sarvashresth Tripathi.

Sarvashresth Tripathi, a 2006 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has previously served as the Superintendent of Police for the combined Guntur and Krishna districts. The SIT comprises other key members, including Gopinath Jatti, IPS, the Deputy Inspector General for the Visakhapatnam Range; V Harshavardhan Raju, IPS, the Superintendent of Police for YSR Kadapa District; and Venkat Rao, the Additional Superintendent of Police for the Tirupati District. Other members include G Sitarama Rao and J Sivanarayana Swamy, both Deputy Superintendents of Police; T Satyanarayana, an inspector from the Special Branch in Annamayya District; K Umamaheswar, an inspector from the NTR Police Commissionerate in Vijayawada; and M Suryanarayana, a circle inspector from Kalluru in Chittoor District.

According to the government order, “The SIT may call for relevant information and assistance from any Department of the Government during the investigation. All government departments shall cooperate with the SIT in discharging its duties and submit any information or technical assistance requested. Similarly, the SIT may seek any external expert assistance by formally requesting the Director General of Police.”

What is the Controversy?
The controversy gained traction after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed last week that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were discovered in the laddus served as prasad at the Tirupati temple during the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government.

Referring to a private lab report from Gujarat, Naidu alleged the presence of “beef tallow,” “lard” (related to pig fat), and fish oil in the ghee.

However, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy denied these claims, stating that no violations occurred under his regime. Reddy also accused Naidu of doing “politics in the name of God,” labeling him “a pathological and habitual liar.”