A special investigation team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged adulteration of Tirupati laddus, which are offered as prasad to devotees at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Vipin Jain, Pomil Jain, Apoorva Chawda, and Raju Rajasekharan. The investigation follows an order from the Supreme Court, which directed the CBI to set up the five-member SIT in November of last year.
The team was assigned to investigate the allegations that animal fat had been used in the preparation of the famous laddus. The SIT comprises two officers from the CBI, two from the Andhra Pradesh Police, and one officer from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Supreme Court issued its order on October 4, following petitions filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramaniya Swamy and Yuvajana Sramika Rytuh Congress Party Rajya Sabha MP Y V Subba Reddy.
The Court stated that the investigation into the use of animal fat in the laddus would be conducted by the SIT, under the supervision of the CBI director.
The controversy first emerged in September, when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that animal fat had been used in the preparation of the laddus during the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government.
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