Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Plea Seeking State To Take Action Against Persons For Propagating Allegations Of Animal Fat In Tirumala Laddu Prasadam Controversy
The Court emphasized that the central agency must be allowed to take the investigation to its logical conclusion based on facts rather than public discourse.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking to restrain public officials from making allegations regarding the presence of animal fat or toilet chemicals in the Laddu Prasadam at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
The Bench has characterized the petition as a premature attempt to reinforce a defence plea while the investigation is currently active.
The Bench further clarified that any relevant material possessed by interested parties should be submitted directly to the CBI rather than being litigated through Article 32 petitions.
The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered, "The instant petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution is nothing but an attempt to reinforce the defence plea in a criminal case that has been registered against the suspects. An investigation whereof has been entrusted by this court to CBI. We are not inclined to entertain this petition, especially when the investigation is still going on. The petitioner, or for that matter, any other interested person, can submit the material in their possession to the CBI for the purpose of taking the ongoing investigation to its logical conclusion."
Advocate for the Petitioner submitted, "In the first round, it was animal fat, my Lord. On 30th September, 24, your Lordship's restraints...all these are chemicals, they are using these bathroom chemicals."
Chief Justice Kant said, "Who is asking you? Why you have become an expert on it? Who is telling you to tell this, all these things? Then you go and tell the authority...Animal fat is not there. Toilet use is not there. You are only filing your defense plea...It has happened because SIT has fined no animal fat."
Chief Justice Kant said, "We have already told that CBI matter has been entrusted to CBI. They are holding investigation. We have said that CBI investigation and administrative issues are altogether different. Whatever CBI will conclude in the report, in the investigation report, we will proceed accordingly."
Advocate submitted, "We will help CBI, but this is creating law and order problem there...Coming from a high constitutional functionary."
Justice Kant remarked, "The problem is that you want to... 3.40. People come to the right real point...This is after the SIT report, which is silent on animal fat. Matter has already been taken notice by this court. Matter has therefore been taken away from the state police, given to CBI."
Advocate submitted, "But in public domain, these comments are being made."
The Petition prayed for the follwoing reliefs, "a) Issue a writ of mandamus directing Respondents to cease and desist from making or propagating allegations of animal fat/toilet chemicals in Tirumala Laddu Prasadam contrary tothe CBI-SIT findings; declarethat continued politicisation of the Tirumala Laddu issue violates constitutional secularism and religious freedom; b) Direct the State of Andhra Pradesh to take immediate action against individuals or organisations spreading misinformation through hoardings, posters, or public statements; c) Direct an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure law and order and prevent mob violence arising from political or religious provocation; d) Direct public disclosure of the complete CBI-SIT chargesheet to prevent selective leaks and misinformation"
Accordingly, the Petition was dismissed.
Background
Recently, in February, 2026, the Supreme Court disposed of a petition filed by Dr Subramanian Swamy seeking to restrain the State of Andhra Pradesh from conducting an administrative inquiry into the Tirupati Prasadam adulteration controversy. The Bench clarified that the State’s probe into administrative lapses is "well demarcated" from the ongoing criminal investigation and does not constitute a conflict of interest.
In September 2024, amid the Tirupati Laddu controversy, BJP's Dr Subramanian Swamy filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into allegations of substandard ingredients and the use of animal fat in the preparation of ghee and laddus distributed as 'prasadam' at the revered Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). Swamy requested the appointment of a committee under the supervision of a retired judge of the Supreme Court to investigate the allegations. The Tirumala Temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, holds immense religious significance for millions of Hindus worldwide, with its customs and traditions rooted in the Agamashastras and protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, as per the plea.
In July 2025, in the alleged case of adulteration in the Prasadam Laddus at Tirumala Tirupati Temple, the Andhra Pradesh High Court held that the Director, CBI, could not have directed J Venkat Rao to conduct the investigation as the same was contrary to the directions of the Supreme Court. A Petitioner approached the High Court seeking a direction for a free and fair investigation by the SIT constituted as per the directions of the Supreme Court. The Petitioner also sought a further declaration stating that the manner and conduct of the SIT officials were illegal and arbitrary.
In November 2024, the Supreme Court had dismissed a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus under the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime.
Previously, on October 4, 2024, the Court directed the formation of an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations of adulteration in the Tirupati Temple's Laddu Prasadam.
On September 30, 2024, the Bench had suggested that it might transfer the investigation into the alleged adulteration of Laddu Prasadam of the Tirupati Tirumala Temple from the SIT constituted by the State Government to an independent agency, on account of the public statements made by the Chief Minister about adulteration.
Another PIL was filed by the Managing Director of Sudarshan News, Suresh Chavhanke, seeking the formation of a committee of retired Supreme Court judges or Chief Justices of High Courts to investigate allegations of adulteration in the preparation of the famed Tirupati Laddu, a 'prasadam' offered at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
Cause Title: Manur Srinivas v. State of Andhra Pradesh [W.P.(C) No. 279 /2026]