The Supreme Court directed a special investigation team (SIT) on Friday to look into allegations made by the Andhra Pradesh government, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu. The government claims that the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party administration utilized substandard ghee containing animal fat in the preparation of laddus at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.

A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan ordered that the special investigation team (SIT) include two officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), two from the Andhra Pradesh State Police, and one senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

"In order to assuage feelings of crores of people, we find that investigation by independent SIT consisting of representatives of state police, CBI and FSSAI, shall be done," the Court said.

The court directed that the existing State SIT, currently investigating the case, will be replaced by the newly formed SIT. This new team will consist of officers from the CBI, nominated by the CBI director, two officers from the Andhra Pradesh State Police, nominated by the state, and a senior officer from the FSSAI, nominated by the chairman of that organization. Additionally, the court specified that the investigation will be conducted under the direction of the CBI.

"We clarify that our order should not be construed as a reflection on the independence and fairness on the members of the state SIT. We have constituted the committee only to assuage the feelings of crores of people having faith in the deity," the Court clarified.

The bench was hearing four petitions regarding allegations that animal fat, as part of ghee, was used to prepare laddus at the Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh. The petitioners include former Member of Parliament Dr. Subramanian Swamy, YSR Congress Party leader and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam chairperson Y.V. Subba Reddy, historian Vikram Sampath, Vedic speaker Dushyanth Sridhar, and Sudarshan News anchor Suresh Chavhanke.

During a previous hearing, the bench questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for publicly claiming that the previous YSR Congress Party administration had used substandard ghee containing animal fat. The court noted that there was no conclusive evidence to support such a claim and asked the Chief Minister if he had any material to justify his definitive conclusion.

The court subsequently requested Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to determine whether the investigation, currently conducted by a State SIT, should be handed over to an independent agency. When the matter was heard again today, SG Mehta proposed that an officer from a central government agency oversee the SIT investigation to enhance confidence in the probe.

"I have examined the issue and if there is any truth in the allegations then it is unacceptable and devotees are spread across the country and Food Safety Act is also there. I have not filed anything against the present SIT but let it be supervised by a senior officer from the Central government force. That will inspire confidence," he submitted.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Andhra Pradesh government, stated that the state should be permitted to continue with its investigation.

"I appear for the State, we wish to go ahead with the SIT. Any officer of the court's choice can be added. There can be no allegation against the SIT. We cannot go by some newspaper report," he said.

However, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Y.V. Subba Reddy, argued that Chief Minister Naidu's statements had compromised the impartiality of the investigation, asserting that an independent body should conduct the inquiry.

"Another statement was made yesterday. Had the CM not made the statement it was a different matter. An impartial independent investigation needs to be ordered," he said.

The Court said that the allegations are very serious.

Rohatgi claimed that there is proof that lard (pig fat) was used in the preparation of laddu.