The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's claim of using adulterated ghee in Tirupati Balaji's Prasad Laddus. The court, while seeking evidence of adulteration in the Prasad Laddus, asked on what basis he said that adulterated ghee was used in the Laddus. The apex court said that prima facie there is no concrete evidence of adulteration in the Laddus.
Questioning the Chief Minister's statement given in the media regarding adulteration, the court said that responsibility is expected from people sitting on constitutional posts, they should not have made such a statement in public without confirmation which affects the sentiments of crores of people. It said that at least God should be kept away from politics.
The hearing will be held on October 3
The case will be heard again on October 3. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had stated in the press on September 18 that during the tenure of the previous government Jagan Mohan Reddy, adulterated ghee containing animal fat was used in the Tirupati Prasad Laddus. He had also made public the investigation report of the adulteration found in the ghee.
After the Chief Minister's statement, various questions are being raised about the Prasad Laddus of Lord Tirupati Balaji, the center of the faith of Hindus. A total of five petitions, including Subramanian Swamy's, have been filed in the Supreme Court, demanding an impartial investigation under the supervision of the court. However, in the meantime, the temple board issued a statement saying that the adulterated ghee found was not used in the Prasad Laddus. On Monday, a bench of Justice BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan heard the case.
The court expressed strong objection to making such statements without any concrete evidence of the use of adulterated ghee in the Laddus. The bench hurled questions at senior advocates Siddharth Luthra and Mukul Rohatgi, who were representing the Andhra Pradesh government. They asked on what basis it was said that adulterated ghee was used in the laddus. What is the proof that adulterated ghee was used in the laddus, while the temple board administration has issued a statement saying that the ghee that was found to be adulterated was not used in the laddus?
Orders were given for investigation of the matter.
You have ordered an investigation into the matter, the investigation is going on, then what was the need for you to go to the press and give a statement before the investigation was completed? The court questioned the intention and said that when the report of adulteration in ghee had come in July, why was the statement given on September 18? The court said that the Chief Minister stated to the media first, while the FIR was registered on September 25 and the SIT was formed later on September 26 for investigation. When the court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the Central Government, about this, Mehta said that this was a question of faith and that if adulterated ghee had been used, then it was unacceptable. It needs to be investigated.
Justice Gavai agreed with him and said that it should be investigated. But whether the investigation of the SIT formed by the state government is enough or should be conducted by an independent agency, the Solicitor General will tell the stand of the Central Government on this in the next hearing, only then the court will consider and decide on it. Earlier, the lawyers of the petitioners said that on one hand there is a statement from the Chief Minister about the use of adulterated ghee in the laddus, and on the other hand the temple board says that adulterated ghee has not been used. This is an important matter and there should be an independent impartial investigation under the supervision of the court.
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