Laddu Row: Is TTD Executive Officer's Statement Not Enough, Jagan Asks CM Naidu

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has again questioned the claims by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that adulterated ghee was used to make Tirupati laddus when YSR Congress Party was in power.

On Sunday, the YSR Congress Party Chief said that the statements of the Executive Officer (EO) of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) appointed by Chandrababu Naidu's government debunk TDP President's claims.

"What is the meaning of this? Is this evidence not enough," asked Jagan Mohan Reddy to the Chief Minister in a post on 'X'. "Satyameva Jayate," added Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The former chief minister posted videos of the statements made by CM Naidu and TTD EO Shyamala Rao since July 18 when the TDP chief first claimed that animal fat was present in the ghee used for making laddu 'prasadam' at Sri Venkateswara temple.

Jagan Mohan Reddy cited the TTD EO's statement of July 23. Rao had said that TTD found vegetable fat mixed in the ghee and rejected two tankers. On September 18, CM Naidu alleged that animal fat was used instead of ghee in laddu preparation.

Two days after CM Naidu's allegation, the TTD EO made a statement. "After discovering that the ghee was adulterated, we rejected and sent four tankers back," Rao said.


The YSR Congress president also cited another statement made by CM Naidu on September 22. He had maintained that four tankers had already arrived and the ghee from them was used.

After Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed a press conference on Friday, accusing CM Naidu of "tarnishing" the sanctity of Tirumala with his false allegation, the Chief Minister said, "We used the ghee, but the exact details of where it was used are irrelevant."

The YSR Congress leader also posted a video from his press conference to reiterate the allegation against CM Naidu.


"What happened during the so-called controversy on laddus? Chandrababu Naidu has lowered Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's reputation. The pride of our laddus has been diminished. He intentionally planted a seed of doubt that laddus were not good to eat even though he knew very well that he was lying," said the YSR Congress President.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has already written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to severely reprimand CM Naidu, tagged central ministers, top leaders of BJP, and its allies.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to hear several petitions on Monday regarding the controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the renowned Tirupati laddus.


Petitions have been filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and YV Subba Reddy, a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress Party and former chairman of the the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), both demanding a court-monitored investigation.

A bench comprising of Justices B. R. Gavai and K. V. Viswanathan will take up the matter for hearing on Monday.

One of the pleas filed by advocate Satyam Singh seeks direction for the constitution of a judicial committee under the chairmanship of a former SC judge or a probe by CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) into the alleged "criminal conspiracy and mismanagement of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust."


The plea said: "A grave violation of religious customs occurred as investigations revealed disturbing facts that non-vegetarian products, specifically bird meat (kolis), the presence of animal fat, 'lard' (pig fat), fish oil and other impurities were used in the preparation of 'prasadam'."

"This act not only violates the fundamental tenets of Hindu religious customs but also deeply wounds the sentiments of countless devotees who regard the 'prasadam' as a sacred blessing. The gravity of this situation cannot be overlooked, as it strikes at the core of our religious practices and beliefs," it added.

Further, it said that the recent violation at the Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple represents a grave infringement of Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion.


The petition said that the holy Tirumala Tirupati Temple holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus globally and countless devotees visit the sacred site annually to seek blessings and partake in the divine 'prasadam', believed to carry the Lord Venkateswara's blessings.

Another plea seeks the appointment of a committee under direct monitoring of the Supreme Court or appointment of a retired SC judge with other experts to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations of substandard ingredients and animal fat in the ghee in Tirupati Tirumala Temple.

Earlier, a letter petition was addressed to the Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud seeking urgent intervention from the Supreme Court in light of recent revelations about the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of 'prasadam' offered to the deity at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the YSCRP rule.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the adulteration of ghee used for making Tirupati laddu.

Earlier, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced a probe by SIT into irregularities at TTD, which manages the affairs of Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.

CM Naidu added after receiving the report, the state government would take action against those involved in using adulterated ghee for 'prasadam'. - IANS