Tirupati prasadam row: SC to hear tomorrow pleas seeking court-monitored probe | India News

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice K V Vishwanathan was scheduled to hear the matter today, however, it adjourned the hearing to tomorrow after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the bench that the matter be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday.

N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients and animal fat were used in the preparation of laddus at the Tirupati Temple during the previous government. (Image – TV9 netwok)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (October 3) adjourned to October 4 hearing on a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the allegations of adulterated ghee in preparation of Tirupati temple prasadam.

Solicitor General requested bench that matter be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan was scheduled to hear the matter today, however, it adjourned the hearing to tomorrow after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the bench that the matter be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday.

“If your lordships permit, can I respond at 10.30 am sharp tomorrow,” SG Mehta told the bench.

The bench agreed to the request of SG Mehta and said that it would hear the matter on Friday.

Apex court had asked SG to assist in deciding whether investigation by a SIT should continue

The apex court, during the last hearing, had asked SG Mehta to assist in deciding as to whether the investigation by a Special Investigating Team (SIT), which was appointed by the state government of Andhra Pradesh, should continue or the investigation should be conducted by an independent agency.

Four writ petitions have been filed seeking various prayers

Four writ petitions have been filed seeking various prayers, including an independent enquiry and directions for establishing regulatory frameworks with respect to the religious trust and specifically the preparation of the prasadam.

Apex court took strong exception to statement made by Chief Minister

The bench, during the last hearing into the matter, had taken strong exception to the statement made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tirupati laddos that animal fat was used to make Tirupati ladoos under previous regime of Jagan Mohan Reddy, saying that such statements can affect the sentiments of crores of people across the world.

The apex court noted that even according to the state government, an investigation of the matter was necessary and as such, an SIT came to be appointed on September 26 to investigate the FIR dated September 25 and a statement was made by the Chief Minister on September 18, which was even prior to the FIR being lodged on September 25 and the SIT being constituted on September 26.

Not appropriate for a high constitutional functionary to make a statement which can affect sentiment of crores of people: SC

“We are, prima facie, of the view that it was not appropriate on the part of a high constitutional functionary to go in public to make a statement which can affect the sentiment of crores of people and when investigation to find out adulterated ghee was used to make laddus was underway,” the apex court had said during the last hearing.

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