Supreme Court stays High Court's order saying CBI violated directions on Tirupati Laddu probe

The Supreme Court today has stayed the order of the High Court wherein it said the CBI had acted in violation of the top court’s directions while carrying out a probe into "adulterated ghee" being used to prepare the Tirupati Laddu prasadam.

CJI Gavai led bench while granting leave on an SLP filed by the CBI Director said today, "Can't' CBI delegate some of its functions to another officer, can't it ask someone else to investigate...".

Central Bureau of Investigation approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's observations. Earlier this week, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had appeared before the bench comprising CJI BR Gavai and Justice Chandran requesting for the matter to be taken up on Thursday or Friday. "There is some confusion, please take up later this week", SG Mehta had told the bench.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court held that the CBI director acted contrary to the Supreme Court’s directions by allowing one J Venkat Rao, an officer not formally part of the special investigation team (SIT), to carry out investigation in the case. Venkat Rao was not specifically named as one of the state’s representatives in the SIT and the high court held that he could not assume investigative powers in the matter.

In October last year, the Supreme Court had ordered the SIT appointed by the State Government to look into the Tirupati prasadam issue to be substituted. The division bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan ordered that the new SIT will be consisting of officers of CBI nominated by the Director, CBI, 2 officers of Andhra Pradesh state police nominated by the State, and a senior officer of FSSAI as nominated by the chairman of the body.

On September 30, 2024, the top court had expressed its displeasure over the statements made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu before the press even before the SIT, appointed by the state to look into the Tirupata prasadam issue, came out with a report.

Court had also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist the court on the aspect if the investigation into the Tirupati laddu controversy by the state-appointed SIT should continue or should it be done by an independent authority.

A bunch of petitions were filed before the Supreme Court addressing the controversy that erupted after the ghee used in Tirupati prasadam was found to be adulterated. Suresh Chavhanke, Editor-in-chief and Managing Director of Sudarshan News, had also approached the top court against this adulteration of the prasadam seeking an investigation into the alleged offence of criminal conspiracy and mismanagement of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust and violation of freedom of conscience and free profession, practise and propagation under Article 25.

As the holy Tirumala Tirupati Temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus globally, Chavhanke had also sought the appointment of retired judges for management of temples and shrines.

After a study was conducted on the Ghee used in the laddu, disturbing facts & truth have been revealed that non-vegetarian products, specifically bird meat (kolis), animal fat, 'Lard' (pig fat), fish oil and other impurities were used in the preparation of prasadam during the tenure of the previous Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust management. The use of adulterated ghee in the laddu has been said to be violative of not only fundamental religious customs associated with the temple but also constituting a severe affront to Hindu religious practise and sentiments of the “Santana Dharma” and the devotees which strictly prohibit the presence of non-vegetarian items in any aspect of temple rituals, especially offering to the deity.

Case Title: Director, CBI Vs Kaduru Chinnappanna

Bench: CJI Gavai and Justices Chandran and Anjaria

Hearing Date: September 22, 2025