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The controversy surrounding the quality of laddus offered as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala has taken a new turn with the former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), YV Subba Reddy, approaching the Supreme Court. Reddy has requested the formation of an independent committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge, to investigate the allegations of substandard ingredients and the use of animal fat in the ghee used for making the laddus. The laddus, considered sacred offerings at the temple, have been at the center of this controversy, sparking debates and raising concerns about the quality of offerings provided to devotees.
The allegations stem from claims that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the ghee for making the laddus. These claims have been fiercely contested by different parties, including the current and former TTD officials. Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, another former chairman of the TTD trust board, has dismissed the claims made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu about adulterated ghee with animal fats. Reddy has termed these accusations as baseless and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. He questioned the stringent mechanisms in place at the TTD to prevent the supply of adulterated materials, wondering how such accusations could even arise.
The controversy has also brought into question the credibility of the TTD executive officer, J Syamala Rao. Reddy highlighted the inconsistencies in Rao's statements regarding the lab reports. Initially, Rao had stated that the ghee stocks were adulterated with vegetable oils, leading to the blacklisting of the contractor and the return of his supplies. However, Rao later echoed the Chief Minister's claims about the adulteration with animal fats, leading to further confusion and raising doubts about the transparency of the entire process. This has led to calls for a comprehensive investigation into the matter to uncover the truth and ensure the quality and sanctity of the offerings provided at the temple.
Source: Tirupati laddu controversy: Former TTD chairman moves SC, seeks probe into lab report