(Image source from: News24online.com)

The Supreme Court inquired about the evidence that the Andhra Pradesh government had to prove that contaminated ghee was used in the preparation of the temple's prasadam. The court said that the public was not aware of this claim, and there was no proof that the alleged contaminated ghee was actually used. The court was hearing a series of petitions related to allegations of animal fat being found in the ghee used to make prasadam at a temple in Andhra Pradesh. The court expressed its expectation that when holding a constitutional office, the government should keep religious matters separate from politics. The court also questioned the need for the government to go to the press before the investigation was complete, and suggested that the petitions were not genuine attempts to address the issue but rather an attempt by the previous regime to attack the current government.

The Supreme Court has asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT), appointed by the state government to investigate the Tirupati Laddu controversy, to refrain from proceeding with the probe. The court has hinted that the investigation should be handed over to a Central agency-appointed SIT. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has accused the previous government of using animal fat in the preparation of the temple's sacred Tirupati laddus. The Deputy Chief Minister has strongly criticized the former Chief Minister, claiming that the management of temple affairs under the previous government led to various "illicit" activities within the temple complex, affecting its sanctity. The Deputy Chief Minister has called for the establishment of a 'Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board' amidst the growing controversy over the ingredients used in the renowned Tirupati laddus. Additionally, the Deputy Chief Minister has initiated a 11-day 'Prayashchitta Diksha' to atone for the alleged use of animal fat in the temple's laddus.

The Tirupati laddus provided by the TTD have been discovered to include 'beef tallow', 'lard', and 'fish oil'. In response, the Andhra government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the suspected use of animal fat in the Tirupati laddus.