Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, on Tuesday, announced that the SIT investigation into the Tirupati laddoo prasadam case will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court.

The SIT was formed to investigate the sensitive case, and the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation's integrity

Rao clarified that the investigation will resume after the Supreme Court issues its directives on October 3. The decision to form the SIT was made considering the severity of the case, and the temporary suspension is necessary to avoid any potential legal complications.

The SIT's investigation will proceed according to the Supreme Court's guidance, ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry.

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making public allegations about the use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of laddoos, which were served as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan criticised the chief minister, saying there is no conclusive proof yet to substantiate that contaminated ghee was used in preparation of prasadam laddoos.

It questioned the need to make a public statement on the issue when a probe had already been ordered by the state into the allegations.

The bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to seek instructions from the Central government on whether an independent investigation is required and posted the matter to October 3 at 3.30 pm.

"We are prima facie of the view that when the investigation was under process, it was not appropriate for the high constitutional authority to make a statement that can affect the sentiments of crores of people. In that view of the matter, we find that it would be appropriate if the Solicitor General assists us on whether the SIT by the state should continue or the investigation should be by an independent agency," said the bench in it's order.

The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking court-monitored investigation into the allegations of use of animal fat to make laddoos to serve as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped.

During the hearing, the top court asked the Andhra Pradesh government whether the alleged adulterated laddoos had been sent for testing.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), said that there were complaints regarding the quality of laddoos and possible contamination. He also said that the lab report of the NDDB showed contamination and the nature of contamination was under inquiry.

The top court was hearing petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, and ex TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, Surjit Singh Yadav, President of non government organisation Hindu Sena Samiti, historian Dr. Vikram Sampath, chairman managing director (CMD) and the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan, Suresh Chavhanke and others.

The petitions sought court-monitored investigation into the allegations levelled by TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government regarding use of adulterated ghee in preparation of laddoos at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the previous YSRCP regime.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, on Tuesday, announced that the SIT investigation into the Tirupati laddoo prasadam case will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, on Tuesday, announced that the SIT investigation into the Tirupati laddoo prasadam case will be suspended until October 3, due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court. The SIT was formed to investigate the sensitive case, and the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation's integrity Rao clarified that the investigation will resume after the Supreme Court issues its directives on October 3. The decision to form the SIT was made considering the severity of the case, and the temporary suspension is necessary to avoid any potential legal complications. The SIT's investigation will proceed according to the Supreme Court's guidance, ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry. The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making public allegations about the use of adulterated ghee in the preparation of laddoos, which were served as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan criticised the chief minister, saying there is no conclusive proof yet to substantiate that contaminated ghee was used in preparation of prasadam laddoos. It questioned the need to make a public statement on the issue when a probe had already been ordered by the state into the allegations. The bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to seek instructions from the Central government on whether an independent investigation is required and posted the matter to October 3 at 3.30 pm. "We are prima facie of the view that when the investigation was under process, it was not appropriate for the high constitutional authority to make a statement that can affect the sentiments of crores of people. In that view of the matter, we find that it would be appropriate if the Solicitor General assists us on whether the SIT by the state should continue or the investigation should be by an independent agency," said the bench in it's order. The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking court-monitored investigation into the allegations of use of animal fat to make laddoos to serve as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped. During the hearing, the top court asked the Andhra Pradesh government whether the alleged adulterated laddoos had been sent for testing. Senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), said that there were complaints regarding the quality of laddoos and possible contamination. He also said that the lab report of the NDDB showed contamination and the nature of contamination was under inquiry. The top court was hearing petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, and ex TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, Surjit Singh Yadav, President of non government organisation Hindu Sena Samiti, historian Dr. Vikram Sampath, chairman managing director (CMD) and the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan, Suresh Chavhanke and others. The petitions sought court-monitored investigation into the allegations levelled by TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government regarding use of adulterated ghee in preparation of laddoos at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the previous YSRCP regime. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Amid Supreme Court hearing, SIT investigation into Tirupati laddoo prasadam case suspended till Oct 3

The Supreme Court of India criticised the Andhra Pradesh government regarding the controversy over Tirupati temple prasadam, and questioned why the issue was brought to the media before confirming whether adulterated ghee had been used in making prasadam laddoos.

The Supreme Court of India criticised the Andhra Pradesh government regarding the controversy over Tirupati temple prasadam, and questioned why the issue was brought to the media before confirming whether adulterated ghee had been used in making prasadam laddoos. During the hearing, on Monday (September 30), the court questioned Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's decision to make public statements while the matter was still under investigation. The bench told the state government's lawyer that lab tests revealed the ghee tested was already rejected. The case was heard by Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, who were hearing several petitions seeking a court-observed investigation into the controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddoos. 'We expect the Gods to be kept away from politics': SC to Andhra Pradesh government "Till outcome of SIT probe, what was the need to go to the press?" the Court asked, according to LiveLaw. "When you have ordered an investigation through the SIT, what was the necessity to go to the press?" Justice Gavai asked the State. He also remarked, "When you hold a constitutional office...we expect the Gods to be kept away from the politics." SC to consider handing Tirupati Laddoo probe to independent agency The Court also indicated it might move the investigation into allegations of ghee adulteration with animal fat at the Tirupati Tirumala Temple from the state to an independent body. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was instructed to come back with instructions on October 3. Also read: War of words between BJP and Cong over Kharge's remark on Indian PM Modi “The petition pertains to sentiments affecting crores of people living in the entire world. The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh had gone in public making a statement that the animal fat was being used to make Tirupati laddus under the previous regime,” the Court pointed out. “However, some press reports also show that the Chief Executive Officer of the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam had also made a statement that such an adulterated ghee was never used. The petitions have been filed seeking various prayers including an independent enquiry and directions for regulating the affairs of the religious trusts and specifically the manufacture of prasadam,” it added. Naidu vs Reddy on Tirupati laddoo controversy Earlier this month, Andhra Pradesh CM, N. Chandrababu Naidu, alleged that animal fat was used in preparing the sacred prasadam. He said that during Jagan Mohan Reddy's rule, adulterated ghee had been used for making the laddoos at Tirupati temple. The Andhra Pradesh government set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. Former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy denied Naidu's claims, accusing him of 'lying' about the Tirupati laddoo prasadam. Also read: Chief Justice of India irked by use of 'yeah, yeah' in court, scolds petitioner, 'This is not a coffee shop' On Friday, Jagan Mohan Reddy cancelled his scheduled visit to Tirumala, accusing the government of issuing notices to his party leaders to prevent them from visiting the temple. “The demon rule is continuing in the state. The government is trying to obstruct my upcoming visit to the Tirumala temple. Police have issued notices to YSRCP leaders across the state regarding the temple visit. The notice states that the visit to the Tirumala temple is not permitted, and the programme organised by YSRCP does not have the necessary approval. Consequently, leaders are not allowed to participate in that programme,” the former chief minister said. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati laddoo row: Supreme Court slams Andhra Pradesh govt, says, ‘Keep God out of politics’

Indian Police Service&nbsp;(IPS) officer Sarvashresth Tripathi has been appointed as the head of the&nbsp;Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the adulteration of the prasadam (offering) at the Tirupati temple, the Andhra Pradesh government confirmed on Tuesday (Sep 24).&nbsp;

The laddus given to the devotees as an offering at the temple have been alleged to contain animal fats, including beef tallow, which has caused uproar amongst the Hindu community across the country.&nbsp;

Tripathi will be joined by two more senior IPS officers,&nbsp;Gopinath Jetty,&nbsp;range deputy inspector general of police in Visakhapatnam and&nbsp;Harshavardhan Raju,&nbsp;district superintendent of police, Kadapa.&nbsp;

Tripathi, a 2006-batch IPS officer of the Andhra cadre is currently posted in Guntur as the inspector general of police. He had also worked in the recent assembly elections where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) emerged victorious in an alliance with the Jana Sena Party.&nbsp;

The SIT will reportedly not only look into circumstances that led to adulteration in the prasadam but also investigate&nbsp;into other irregularities that have allegedly taken place during the previous regime in the last five years.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>What is the&nbsp;controversy?</h2>

The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that the&nbsp;Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddus, which included animal fat and fish oil.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andhra-deputy-cm-pawan-kalyan-to-undergo-11-day-penance-after-tirupati-laddoo-row-760820" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row</a>

On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report from&nbsp;Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference.

Some new reports have also claimed that devotees found&nbsp;tobacco in the prasadam offered to them. One such devotee named&nbsp;Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district said she discovered tobacco in the laddu when she went back home to share it with family and neighbours.&nbsp;

On Monday (Sep 23), a&nbsp;purification ritual was carried out in the temple to rid of the negative energies.&nbsp;The ritual called the Mahashanti Yagam was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules) with an executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests present.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sarvashresth Tripathi has been appointed as the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the adulteration of the prasadam (offering) at the Tirupati temple, the Andhra Pradesh government confirmed on Tuesday (Sep 24).

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sarvashresth Tripathi has been appointed as the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the adulteration of the prasadam (offering) at the Tirupati temple, the Andhra Pradesh government confirmed on Tuesday (Sep 24). The laddus given to the devotees as an offering at the temple have been alleged to contain animal fats, including beef tallow, which has caused uproar amongst the Hindu community across the country. Tripathi will be joined by two more senior IPS officers, Gopinath Jetty, range deputy inspector general of police in Visakhapatnam and Harshavardhan Raju, district superintendent of police, Kadapa. Tripathi, a 2006-batch IPS officer of the Andhra cadre is currently posted in Guntur as the inspector general of police. He had also worked in the recent assembly elections where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) emerged victorious in an alliance with the Jana Sena Party. The SIT will reportedly not only look into circumstances that led to adulteration in the prasadam but also investigate into other irregularities that have allegedly taken place during the previous regime in the last five years. Watch | Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity What is the controversy? The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddus, which included animal fat and fish oil. Also read | Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report from Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference. Some new reports have also claimed that devotees found tobacco in the prasadam offered to them. One such devotee named Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district said she discovered tobacco in the laddu when she went back home to share it with family and neighbours. On Monday (Sep 23), a purification ritual was carried out in the temple to rid of the negative energies. The ritual called the Mahashanti Yagam was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules) with an executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests present. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati prasadam row: IPS officer to head SIT probe appointed by Andhra government

Tamil actor Karthi has apologised to Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, over his comment on the Tirupati laddoo row. Pawan Kalyan had lashed out at Karthi over the latter's remark over the controversy around the temple prasad.&nbsp; 
 
What did Karthi say? 
 
On September 23, Karthi attended an event in Hyderabad during which the anchor showed a few memes, one of which was about laddoos. To which the actor reacted and said, "Ippudu laddoo gurinchi maatladakodadu (We should not talk about laddoo now), it's a sensitive topic manakoddadi (we don’t want)." The actor laughed off the matter of animal fat being used in the laddoos which did not go down well with many, including Pawan Kalyan.&nbsp; 
 
Soon after, Pawan lashed out at the actor and said, "Don’t you dare say it is a sensitive issue or make jokes about the Tirupati Laddoo. I respect you as an actor, I urge everyone from the film fraternity to either support this fight or stay silent. I would request everyone to refrain from making unnecessary remarks." 
 
On Tuesday, Karthi issued a public apology to Pawan Kalyan and wrote, "Dear @PawanKalyan&nbsp;sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards."&nbsp;

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Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/PawanKalyan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PawanKalyan</a> sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards.
— Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) <a href="https://twitter.com/Karthi_Offl/status/1838480559925870662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Pawan Kalyan responded to Karthi apology post and said he understood that the Ponniyin Selvan star did not make the remark intentionally. The Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh wrote on X, "Dear&nbsp;@Karthi_Offl&nbsp;&nbsp;garu,&nbsp;I sincerely appreciate your kind gesture and swift response, as well as the respect you've shown towards our shared traditions. Matters concerning our sacred institutions, like Tirupati and its revered laddus, carry deep emotional weight for millions of devotees, and it’s essential for all of us to handle such topics with care."

"That said, I wanted to bring this to your notice with no intentions behind it, and I understand the situation was unintentional. Our responsibility as public figures is to foster unity and respect, especially regarding what we cherish most—our culture and spiritual values. Let's always strive to uplift these values while continuing to inspire through cinema."

"I would also like to express my admiration for you as a remarkable actor whose dedication and talent have consistently enriched our cinema."

"Wishing you, @Suriya_offl &nbsp;garu, #Jyotika garu, and the entire team at @2D_ENTPVTLTD &nbsp;a successful release of #Meiyazhagan / #SathyamSundaram. May it resonate with audience and bring joy to many (sic)." 
 
Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan is observing an 11-day-long prayaschitta diksha, a purification ritual.&nbsp; 
 
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu previously accused the usage of substandard ingredients, including fish oil and beef tallow, in the ghee used to prepare Tirupati laddoo&nbsp;prasadams during Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration. Recent lab reports have confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos which&nbsp;led to the cancellation of contracts with companies supplying ghee to the temple.

Tamil actor Karthi has apologised to Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, over his comment on the Tirupati laddoo row. Pawan Kalyan had lashed out at Karthi over the latter's remark over the controversy around the temple prasad.

Tamil actor Karthi has apologised to Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, over his comment on the Tirupati laddoo row. Pawan Kalyan had lashed out at Karthi over the latter's remark over the controversy around the temple prasad. What did Karthi say? On September 23, Karthi attended an event in Hyderabad during which the anchor showed a few memes, one of which was about laddoos. To which the actor reacted and said, "Ippudu laddoo gurinchi maatladakodadu (We should not talk about laddoo now), it's a sensitive topic manakoddadi (we don’t want)." The actor laughed off the matter of animal fat being used in the laddoos which did not go down well with many, including Pawan Kalyan. Soon after, Pawan lashed out at the actor and said, "Don’t you dare say it is a sensitive issue or make jokes about the Tirupati Laddoo. I respect you as an actor, I urge everyone from the film fraternity to either support this fight or stay silent. I would request everyone to refrain from making unnecessary remarks." On Tuesday, Karthi issued a public apology to Pawan Kalyan and wrote, "Dear @PawanKalyan sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards." Dear @PawanKalyan sir, with deep respects to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards. — Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) September 24, 2024 × Pawan Kalyan responded to Karthi apology post and said he understood that the Ponniyin Selvan star did not make the remark intentionally. The Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh wrote on X, "Dear @Karthi_Offl garu, I sincerely appreciate your kind gesture and swift response, as well as the respect you've shown towards our shared traditions. Matters concerning our sacred institutions, like Tirupati and its revered laddus, carry deep emotional weight for millions of devotees, and it’s essential for all of us to handle such topics with care." "That said, I wanted to bring this to your notice with no intentions behind it, and I understand the situation was unintentional. Our responsibility as public figures is to foster unity and respect, especially regarding what we cherish most—our culture and spiritual values. Let's always strive to uplift these values while continuing to inspire through cinema." "I would also like to express my admiration for you as a remarkable actor whose dedication and talent have consistently enriched our cinema." "Wishing you, @Suriya_offl garu, #Jyotika garu, and the entire team at @2D_ENTPVTLTD a successful release of #Meiyazhagan / #SathyamSundaram. May it resonate with audience and bring joy to many (sic)." Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan is observing an 11-day-long prayaschitta diksha, a purification ritual. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu previously accused the usage of substandard ingredients, including fish oil and beef tallow, in the ghee used to prepare Tirupati laddoo prasadams during Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration. Recent lab reports have confirmed the presence of animal fat in the laddoos which led to the cancellation of contracts with companies supplying ghee to the temple.

Karthi apologises to Pawan Kalyan over his remarks on Tirupati Laddoo controversy 

While the controversy surrounding the presence of animal fat in prasadam (offering) at the Tirupati temple in India's Andhra Pradesh had barely died down, a devotee has now claimed that she&nbsp;found&nbsp;tobacco in the laddoo offered at the temple.

The devotee, Donthu Padmavati, a resident of&nbsp;Khammam district, said she found tobacco in the prasadam during her visit to the Temple last week. She had brought the laddoos home to share with family and neighbours when she made the shocking discovery.&nbsp;

"As I was about to distribute the laddoo, I was horrified to find pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper.&nbsp;The prasadam is supposed to be sacred, and to find such contamination is heartbreaking," she said.&nbsp;

The development, if true, adds to the recent revelations and raises serious questions on the integrity of the temple board, under whose nose, adulterated products have found their way into the offerings - revered by the millions of devotees visiting the holy site.

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the below media

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It's really heartbreaking to see the affairs of Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple 💔 
 
Amber (Tobacco/Gutka) cover is found in Tirumala Laddu Prasada of a devotee 
 
Recently a few friends of mine who had travelled to the temple for darshan have found cigarette buds… <a href="https://t.co/Lobqh8S3U9">pic.twitter.com/Lobqh8S3U9</a>
— Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bnglrweatherman/status/1838171484067598381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Purification ritual</h2>

The incident came to light after a purification ritual was carried out in the temple as reports claimed that prasadam prepared in the kitchen was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows.

The ritual called the Mahashanti Yagam was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules) on Monday (Sep 23) early morning.&nbsp;

Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests, participated in the&nbsp;purification ritual.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andhra-deputy-cm-pawan-kalyan-to-undergo-11-day-penance-after-tirupati-laddoo-row-760820" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row</a>

The controversy erupted after Chief Minister&nbsp;Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddoos.&nbsp;

A lab report from Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples.

(With inputs from agencies)

While the controversy surrounding the presence of animal fat in prasadam (offering) at the Tirupati temple in India's Andhra Pradesh had barely died down, a devotee has now claimed that she found tobacco in the laddoo offered at the temple.

While the controversy surrounding the presence of animal fat in prasadam (offering) at the Tirupati temple in India's Andhra Pradesh had barely died down, a devotee has now claimed that she found tobacco in the laddoo offered at the temple. The devotee, Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district, said she found tobacco in the prasadam during her visit to the Temple last week. She had brought the laddoos home to share with family and neighbours when she made the shocking discovery. "As I was about to distribute the laddoo, I was horrified to find pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper. The prasadam is supposed to be sacred, and to find such contamination is heartbreaking," she said. The development, if true, adds to the recent revelations and raises serious questions on the integrity of the temple board, under whose nose, adulterated products have found their way into the offerings - revered by the millions of devotees visiting the holy site. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the below media It's really heartbreaking to see the affairs of Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple 💔 Amber (Tobacco/Gutka) cover is found in Tirumala Laddu Prasada of a devotee Recently a few friends of mine who had travelled to the temple for darshan have found cigarette buds… pic.twitter.com/Lobqh8S3U9 — Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) September 23, 2024 × Watch | Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity Purification ritual The incident came to light after a purification ritual was carried out in the temple as reports claimed that prasadam prepared in the kitchen was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows. The ritual called the Mahashanti Yagam was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules) on Monday (Sep 23) early morning. Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests, participated in the purification ritual. Also read | Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row The controversy erupted after Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddoos. A lab report from Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati prasadam row: Devotee claims tobacco found in laddoo after animal fat - Watch

A cleansing ritual was performed at the Tirupati temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (Sep 23) after reports claimed that the 'prasadam' (offering) was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows.&nbsp;

The ritual called&nbsp;the Mahashanti Yagam&nbsp;was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules). Eight temple priests,&nbsp;guided by&nbsp;three Agama Shastra advisors led the cleansing ritual that started around 5:40 am local time and concluded within two hours. Notably,&nbsp;Agama advisors are Vedic scholars who oversee temple rituals.

Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests, participated in the&nbsp;purification ritual.&nbsp;

The ritual was performed a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu&nbsp;ordered an SIT probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making the consecrated laddoos.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Andhra Pradesh: TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) organised a Maha Shanti Homam in the wake of Laddu Prasadam row. 
 
Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Shamala Rao and other officials of the Board participated in the Homamam along with the… <a href="https://t.co/Gkh7JFeljT">pic.twitter.com/Gkh7JFeljT</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1838045453587468306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tirupati-laddu-row-new-vendor-appointed-promises-of-purity-760801" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity</a>

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<h2>Penance&nbsp;by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan</h2>

On Saturday (Sep 21). Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan announced that he was undertaking an 11-day&nbsp;ritualistic penance to atone for the use of contentious ingredients in the temple kitchen.&nbsp;

Kalyan called the incident a "stain on the Hindu race", adding that those practising the 'Sanatan Dharma' needed to stand up now.&nbsp;

"Tirumala Laddu Prasadam, which is considered to be sacred,&nbsp;has become impure as a result of the depraved tendencies of the past rulers. Contaminated with animal remains. Only open minds can succumb to such sin. Not being able to detect this sin in the beginning is a stain on the Hindu race," said Kalyan.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andhra-deputy-cm-pawan-kalyan-to-undergo-11-day-penance-after-tirupati-laddoo-row-760820">Also read |&nbsp;Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row</a>

<h2>What is the&nbsp;controversy?</h2>

The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddoos, which included animal fat and fish oil.

On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report from&nbsp;Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference.

(With inputs from agencies)

A cleansing ritual was performed at the Tirupati temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (Sep 23) after reports claimed that the 'prasadam' (offering) was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows.

A cleansing ritual was performed at the Tirupati temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (Sep 23) after reports claimed that the 'prasadam' (offering) was adulterated with animal fats, including beef tallows. The ritual called the Mahashanti Yagam was performed in strict accordance with the shastras (manual with rules). Eight temple priests, guided by three Agama Shastra advisors led the cleansing ritual that started around 5:40 am local time and concluded within two hours. Notably, Agama advisors are Vedic scholars who oversee temple rituals. Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Shamala Rao, along with other officials and priests, participated in the purification ritual. The ritual was performed a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu ordered an SIT probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making the consecrated laddoos. #WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) organised a Maha Shanti Homam in the wake of Laddu Prasadam row. Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Shamala Rao and other officials of the Board participated in the Homamam along with the… pic.twitter.com/Gkh7JFeljT — ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024 × Watch | Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity Penance by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan On Saturday (Sep 21). Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan announced that he was undertaking an 11-day ritualistic penance to atone for the use of contentious ingredients in the temple kitchen. Kalyan called the incident a "stain on the Hindu race", adding that those practising the 'Sanatan Dharma' needed to stand up now. "Tirumala Laddu Prasadam, which is considered to be sacred, has become impure as a result of the depraved tendencies of the past rulers. Contaminated with animal remains. Only open minds can succumb to such sin. Not being able to detect this sin in the beginning is a stain on the Hindu race," said Kalyan. Also read | Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row What is the controversy? The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu last week alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddoos, which included animal fat and fish oil. On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report from Gujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati prasadam row: Temple board conducts purification ritual after animal fat found in laddoos

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday launched a scathing attack on both the Andhra Pradesh government and the BJP over allegations that beef fat was used to make laddus at the Tirupati temple.

He said, "Today, the Andhra Pradesh government and BJP are together. BJP does not have any interest in beef or Dharma. BJP plays with the feelings of the people."

"If beef grease is used at such a pious place to make laddus, I would say that PM Modi and the CM should resign. This is about the faith of crores of people", Alvi added.

Alvi also highlighted the ongoing tensions. He said, "Whichever government it is, it has been in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party." He claimed that the BJP is 'playing with the sentiments of the people of the country' and further insisted that if beef fat is indeed being mixed into laddus, "the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister do not get any right to be in the government."

"India is one of the countries that exports the most beef in the world... the amount of beef export happening under BJP, it has never happened before", said the congress leader.

Earlier, BJP leader Bhanuprakash Reddy condemned the alleged use of animal fat in the 'Tirupati Prasadam' sweets. Reddy also said that they plan to file a complaint against the previous YSRCP government led by former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He claimed, "During the tenure of Jagan Mohan Reddy, from 2019 to 2024, TTD used pure cow ghee to prepare laddu," adding that the laddu was later adulterated. "We got a report that vegetable oil and animal fat were mixed in it," he said.

Reddy added, "It is a very bad thing that happened in the history of Tirumala... Jagan Mohan Reddy's government wantedly damaged the sentiment of Hindu pilgrims, especially Balaji's devotees." He announced that they are filing a complaint against several officials, including TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made a serious allegation, claiming that the previous YSR Congress government used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam. In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of Naidu, who said, "I am shocked to learn that the YS&nbsp;jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam."

YSRCP Leader and former TTD Chairman YV Subbareddy however denies the charge claiming that only organic materials had been used to prepare the Prasadam.

"All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from last three 3 years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people," he said.

The Tirupati temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, is a very important place of worship, known for its importance among Hindu pilgrims.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday launched a scathing attack on both the Andhra Pradesh government and the BJP over allegations that beef fat was used to make laddus at the Tirupati temple.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Friday launched a scathing attack on both the Andhra Pradesh government and the BJP over allegations that beef fat was used to make laddus at the Tirupati temple. He said, "Today, the Andhra Pradesh government and BJP are together. BJP does not have any interest in beef or Dharma. BJP plays with the feelings of the people." "If beef grease is used at such a pious place to make laddus, I would say that PM Modi and the CM should resign. This is about the faith of crores of people", Alvi added. Alvi also highlighted the ongoing tensions. He said, "Whichever government it is, it has been in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party." He claimed that the BJP is 'playing with the sentiments of the people of the country' and further insisted that if beef fat is indeed being mixed into laddus, "the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister do not get any right to be in the government." "India is one of the countries that exports the most beef in the world... the amount of beef export happening under BJP, it has never happened before", said the congress leader. Earlier, BJP leader Bhanuprakash Reddy condemned the alleged use of animal fat in the 'Tirupati Prasadam' sweets. Reddy also said that they plan to file a complaint against the previous YSRCP government led by former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. He claimed, "During the tenure of Jagan Mohan Reddy, from 2019 to 2024, TTD used pure cow ghee to prepare laddu," adding that the laddu was later adulterated. "We got a report that vegetable oil and animal fat were mixed in it," he said. Reddy added, "It is a very bad thing that happened in the history of Tirumala... Jagan Mohan Reddy's government wantedly damaged the sentiment of Hindu pilgrims, especially Balaji's devotees." He announced that they are filing a complaint against several officials, including TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made a serious allegation, claiming that the previous YSR Congress government used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam. In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of Naidu, who said, "I am shocked to learn that the YS jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam." YSRCP Leader and former TTD Chairman YV Subbareddy however denies the charge claiming that only organic materials had been used to prepare the Prasadam. "All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from last three 3 years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people," he said. The Tirupati temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, is a very important place of worship, known for its importance among Hindu pilgrims. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tirupati Prasadam row: 'Modi, Naidu should resign if...,' says Congress leader

Indian Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday (Sept 20) called for a detailed probe into Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's allegation that the previous state government used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet.

Indian Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday (Sept 20) called for a detailed probe into Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's allegation that the previous state government used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddu, a consecrated sweet. Addressing a press conference, Consumer Affairs Minister Joshi said, "Whatever the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said is a very serious matter, it should be investigated in detail and whoever is guilty should be punished." What did Chandrababu Naidu say? On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip of Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Naidu saying that previously animal fat was used in consecrated sweets--'Tirupati Prasadam' instead of 'Ghee' at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. Also read | Pawan Khera blames BJP for creating 'conspiracy theories' around Tirupati Prasadam row "The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam," State Minister Lokesh said in a post on X. The lord venkateswara swamy temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the @ysjagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the tirupati Prasadam. Shame on @ysjagan and the @ysrcparty government that couldn’t respect the religious… pic.twitter.com/UDFC2WsoLP — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) September 18, 2024 × "Shame on YS Jagan and the YSR party government that couldn't respect the religious sentiments of crores of devotees," he added. The charges of Naidu have been denied by former TDP Chairman and YSRCP leader YV Subbareddy who claimed that only organic ingredients were used in the preparation of Prasadam. "All the ingredients used for Swami's offerings from the last three 3 years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people," he said. 'Beef tallow, animal fat used in preparation of ghee' Earlier, TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy cited a lab report which said that "beef tallow and animal fat--lard and fish oil--were used in the preparation of ghee, which was supplied to Tirumala." "The lab reports of samples that were sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee that was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7," Reddy said. "The Hindu religion is offended by this. The 'prasadam' which is offered to the Lord thrice a day has been mixed with this ghee," he added.

Tirupati Prasadam row: Indian minister calls for detailed probe into Andhra CM Naidu's allegation

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