OI Exclusive: No Tests Were Done On Consumed Ghee, Only Last 2 Tankers Tested

In an exclusive conversation with OneIndia, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams' lawyer Siddharth Luthra said last 2 tankers of cooking ghee were tested and it was found that they were contaminated. TTD lawyer said that they have test reports as proof. However, tests were not conducted on the tankers that arrived earlier, he added. Here, it is important to note that the EO on record had gone onto say that the last 4 tankers received in July were rejected and not used. Therefore, the government's claims that contaminated ghee was used is allegedly based on an assumption that the first 4 tankers would've also carried contaminated ghee as the supplier was the same.

Today, the supreme court asked why Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu publicised allegations of adulterated ghee in the laddus before receiving the investigation report. Naidu had claimed that during the YSRCP regime, animal fat was found in the ghee used for these sacred offerings.

Justice K V Viswanathan expressed concern over Naidu's actions, stating, "You get the report in July. September 18, you go public. You say you ordered an investigation. It is very clear from the report that this is not the ghee which had been used. Unless you are sure, how did you go to the public with that?" This remark highlights the court's disapproval of premature public announcements without conclusive evidence.

Political Reactions and Allegations

TDP national spokesperson K Pattabhi Ram defended their stance, asserting that adulterated ghee was indeed used in preparing Tirupati laddus. He welcomed the Supreme Court's suggestion for a central investigation into the matter. Ram pointed out that A R Dairy Food Private Limited supplied eight tankers of ghee to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), and complaints from pilgrims about smell and quality led to testing samples from four tankers.

Ram further stated, "At Rs 319 per kg, it cannot be that the quality of ghee in the first four tankers was pure and the remaining four tankers were adulterated." He emphasised that NDDB supported their findings on ghee samples sent for testing and assured that all reports would be provided to the Supreme Court by the Andhra Pradesh government.

YSRCP's Stand on Allegations

Botsa Satyanarayana, a Member of Legislative Council and former minister in YSRCP government, stressed that determining whether adulterated ghee was used is crucial. He criticised TDP's allegations as baseless and urged patience until the Supreme Court delivers its full ruling. Botsa challenged Chief Minister Naidu to initiate a third-party probe to substantiate his claims.

The Supreme Court also reprimanded the state government for prematurely going to press before completing its Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry. The court remarked on keeping religious matters separate from politics, stating, "We expect Gods to be kept away from politics."