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The Supreme Court of India on Monday dismissed a writ petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
He had challenged the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to constitute a one-man committee in the Tirupati laddu adulteration matter.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant held that the administrative inquiry and the court-directed Special Investigation Team (SIT) function in separate domains.
The Bench clarified that both mechanisms may proceed simultaneously. Justice Joymalya Bagchi also sat on the Bench.
The petitioner alleged that the state-appointed panel interfered with the SIT probe ordered earlier by the apex court.
The allegations concern the supply of allegedly adulterated ghee used in preparing prasadam laddus at the Tirumala temple.
Dismissing the plea, the Court observed that its principal concern was to prevent procedural overlap.
It found no substantive basis to halt the administrative exercise. The Court directed both processes to continue strictly in accordance with the law.
Parallel Probes Continue
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, argued that the petition sought to obstruct departmental proceedings.
The state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, had approved the committee on February 3.
As per the government order, retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar will examine the Self-Contained Note submitted by the SIT.
He will recommend disciplinary or administrative action against officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for lapses in enforcing ghee tender norms.
The committee must submit its report within 45 days. Its mandate confines scrutiny to governance and procedural compliance.
Earlier, on October 4, 2024, the Supreme Court entrusted the investigation to an independent SIT under the supervision of the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The SIT filed its final charge sheet before an Anti-Corruption Bureau court in Nellore on January 23, 2026.
Laboratory analysis by ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute detected no animal fat in sealed samples.
Investigators, however, concluded that vegetable oils and synthetic esters adulterated the ghee.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate registered an ECIR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
It will trace alleged hawala transactions and examine suspected bribery linked to ghee tenders.
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