Tirupati laddu controversy: Ex-CM Jagan Reddy cancels temple visit, says he was denied permission

Tirupati laddu controversy: Amid the “animal fat” in Tirupati laddu row that has rocked Andhra Pradesh, ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy cancelled his visit to the Tirupati temple, saying that he was denied permission. The Andhra Pradesh Police had enforced Section 30 of the Police Act in Tirupati district on Thursday ahead of Jagan Reddy's visit to Tirumala temple. The orders will remain effective until October 24, spanning almost an entire month, Bhaskar English News reported.

District Superintendent of Police Subbarayudu on September 26 said action would be taken against those violating the orders. Section 30 of the Police Act 1861 prohibits organisation of meetings, rallies and processions without police permission. These orders come in the wake of a major controversy over alleged animal fat adulteration in the divine treats of the Tirumala temple.

Former Chief Minister and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will reach Tirumala on September 27 night and offer prayers at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple the next morning. The YSR Congress Party will be conducting a puja in temples across the state on September 28 to restore the sanctity of Tirumala temple, which is alleged to have been tarnished by the “false allegations” of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

According to the PTI report, the latest development in the case involves the Andhra Pradesh government appointing a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the alleged presence of animal fat in the ghee used for making the laddu.

During a recent NDA legislative party meeting, CM N Chandrababu Naidu accused the erstwhile YSRCP government of using substandard ingredients and animal fats for making Sri Venkateswara temple laddus. These allegations were the first to spark a massive controversy across the country.

Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad, in a late-night order on September 26, said, "The government of Andhra Pradesh, in accordance with its commitment to protecting the sanctity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), has considered it necessary to constitute an SIT for detailed and comprehensive investigation of the entire issue," reported PTI. It is important to note that TTD is the official custodian of Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.