Tirupati laddu controversy: Former TTD chairman moves SC, seeks probe into lab report

NEW DELHI: Former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman, YV Subba Reddy, has approached the Supreme Court seeking the formation of an independent committee to probe the allegations surrounding the quality of ingredients used in the preparation of laddus served as Prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala. The committee, as proposed by Reddy, should be led by a retired Supreme Court judge.
The move comes in response to the claims that substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in the ghee for making the laddus, which are considered sacred offerings at the temple.
Earlier, another ex-chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board Bhumana Karunakar Reddy termed chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claims over the use of adulterated ghee with animal fats in the preparation of Tirupati Laddus as baseless on Sunday. He also demanded a CBI probe into these allegations.
"When TTD has stringent mechanisms in place to prevent the supply of adulterated raw materials at every stage, how can the CM make such an accusation," he asked.
He asked how the TTD executive officer J Syamala Rao could alter his statement over lab reports.
"During his press first press conference held in July, the EO said that ghee stocks were found adulterated with vegetable oils and that the contractor was blacklisted and his supplies were returned. And now EO is echoing the remarks of the CM and stating that the ghee stocks supplied by AR Dairy Foods was adulterated with animal fats", Bhumana underlined.