CBI forms SIT to probe TTD laddu allegations

New Delhi, Amaravati: The Central Bureau of Investigation formed an independent five member SIT panel to probe allegations of use of animal fat in Tirupati laddus following the Supreme Court’s direction.

The team comprises five officials - two from the central agency, two from Andhra Pradesh Police and one from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

According to Andhra Pradesh director general of police Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, the state government nominated senior IPS officers Sarvashresth Tripathi and Gopinath Jetti for the CBI-monitored SIT.

“After we sent the names, the CBI Director formed the five-member committee. We have taken approval from the state government and sent those two names to the CBI,” he said.

Tripathi and Gopinath Jetti were part of the SIT formed earlier by the state government to look into the allegations. However, the panel had become defunct after the Apex court’s order.

In its order on October 4, the Supreme Court after hearing the petitions by BJP leader Subramaniya Swamy and YSRC Rajya Sabha MP Y.V. Subba Reddy, among others, said the probe into the allegation of using animal fat in making laddu (sacred offering at Tirumala temple) by the SIT will be supervised by the CBI Director.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in September claimed that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus during the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime in the state, triggering a massive political row.

The YSRC accused Naidu of indulging in “heinous allegations” for political gains while the ruling Telugu Desam circulated a laboratory report to back its claim.