SC Rejects Plea to Shift Tirupati Laddu Trial
Court declines to move the ghee adulteration case out of Andhra Pradesh, citing local witnesses and the Supreme Court-appointed investigation team.
- Supreme Court rejects plea to transfer Tirupati laddu trial.
- Accused cites political statements and concerns over a fair trial.
- Bench points to local witnesses and the court-appointed SIT.
- Proceedings will continue in Andhra Pradesh.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th Nov: The Tirupati laddu trial will continue in Andhra Pradesh after the Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea seeking to transfer the proceedings to a neighbouring state, with the accused citing concerns over the political atmosphere surrounding the case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the petition filed by Machindra Shantaram Lanke, a Maharashtra-based dairy industry businessman and Managing Director of Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd.
Appearing for Lanke, senior advocate Siddharth Dave argued that repeated statements by political leaders, including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, had created a hostile environment that could affect the fairness of the trial.
Dave also referred to a forensic report which, according to his submission, had ruled out the presence of animal fat in the ghee. He argued that political statements continued despite the report and sought the transfer of the case to a neighbouring state.
The counsel said most of the accused were from North India and that language barriers could create additional difficulties. He maintained that his client was being caught in a political dispute and could face prejudice during the trial.
Chief Justice Surya Kant responded that the court had already restrained the political controversy through its earlier order, adding that the accused could approach the court again if any issue arose.
The bench was, however, not persuaded by the transfer request. It observed that several witnesses were from Andhra Pradesh and moving the trial could affect the proceedings. The court also noted that the investigation had been conducted by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court itself.
“We are not inclined to transfer the trial. Dismissed,” the bench ordered.
Background of the Tirupati Laddu Case
The Supreme Court had constituted a five-member independent SIT on October 4, 2024, to investigate allegations of animal fat being used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus. The court had said that its intervention was intended to address public concerns while making clear that judicial proceedings should not become a political battleground.
The independent panel replaced the Andhra Pradesh government’s SIT, which had been formed on September 26, 2024. The Supreme Court-directed team comprised two officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation, two from the Andhra Pradesh Police and a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
The court had directed that the SIT function under the supervision of the CBI Director.
The controversy began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat had been used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government.
The YSR Congress Party rejected the allegations, accusing Naidu of making them for political gains, while the ruling Telugu Desam Party circulated a laboratory report in support of its claims.
The Supreme Court’s latest decision means the trial will remain in Andhra Pradesh, with the accused’s concerns over the political atmosphere left to be addressed through the existing judicial process.
