The Madras High Court, sitting at the Madurai Bench, has instructed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to issue a new notice to AR Dairy Food, granting the company additional time to respond to allegations of supplying adulterated ghee intended for the renowned Tirupati laddus.

This ruling was made by Justice N Sathish Kumar in response to a petition filed by G Kannan on behalf of AR Dairy Food, which challenged the initial show-cause notice from the FSSAI regarding the quality of its ghee.

The court highlighted that the FSSAI's notices were based solely on a report from NDDB-Calf, a laboratory based in Gujarat, which lacks recognition as a food safety officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, thus failing to adhere to the procedural requirements of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011.

AR Dairy Food began supplying ghee for the Tirupati laddus on June 4, 2023, receiving approval for four consignments from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in June; however, four additional consignments were rejected in July without justification.

Consequently, the company was issued a notice questioning the validity of its contract and the potential for blacklisting.

In a related matter, the Supreme Court has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations surrounding the ghee used for the Tirupati laddus, ensuring a transparent inquiry involving the CBI, Andhra Pradesh state police, and FSSAI, supervised by the CBI Director.

The Supreme Court underscored the necessity for an independent investigation due to the significant religious sentiments involved, stating, "We don't want this to turn into a political drama. If there is an independent body, there will be confidence.''

The controversy has also sparked political tensions, with public statements from leaders of the Andhra Pradesh government. The Madras High Court's order for a fresh notice offers temporary relief to AR Dairy Food as the judicial review of the case progresses.