The controversy surrounding the ingredients used in Tirupati laddus has escalated, with former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman YV Subba Reddy announcing his decision to approach the Supreme Court. Subba Reddy, currently a Member of Parliament for the YSRCP, aims to secure a gag order to suppress what he describes as a deliberate ‘misinformation campaign’ propagating false claims about adulterated ghee being used in the sacred laddu ‘prasadam’. The widespread allegations suggest that approximately 20 crore laddus, prepared between 2019 and 2024, might have contained impure ghee. Subba Reddy categorically refutes these accusations, labeling them as politically motivated fabrications designed to tarnish the TTD’s image and disturb devotees. He pointed out that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), mandated by the Supreme Court, is actively investigating the matter, yet speculative reports and selective information leaks persist, causing undue distress.
Subba Reddy expressed his profound disappointment that the sanctity of the Tirumala temple is being exploited for political agendas. He accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of orchestrating a false narrative and personally targeting him because of his association with the ruling YSRCP. He emphasized that any ghee shipments that were suspected to be problematic were rejected and never incorporated into laddu production. The SIT’s confirmation that suspect ghee tankers from the Chandrababu Naidu administration’s tenure (2019-2024) were rerouted without impacting laddu output further supports his position. Subba Reddy also noted that the TDP’s claims are vague and misrepresent the actual ghee procurement system and its pricing, which has varied under different governments.
In a move to validate his claims, Subba Reddy offered to participate in a ‘Satya Sodhana Pariksha’ and a public lie detector test to prove his integrity. He urged the SIT to expand the scope of its investigation to include a broader historical timeframe of 10-15 years, rather than concentrating solely on recent years. He also criticized the media for publishing unsubstantiated reports and called for the official release of certified laboratory results to prevent misunderstandings among devotees. Subba Reddy maintained that the SIT is the only legitimate source for verified investigation outcomes.
Subba Reddy took the opportunity to highlight key achievements during his leadership at TTD, including substantial financial savings on temple projects, implementation of stricter VIP access protocols, a significant reduction in plastic waste, and enhanced support for ‘goshalas’. He also brought up past controversies, such as the alleged illegal deposit of Rs 1,200 crore of temple funds by the previous TDP government into a failing private bank, funds later transferred to secure nationalized banks. He further condemned the handling of the Vaikuntha Ekadashi token distribution under the current administration, which led to a tragic stampede, underscoring his commitment to protecting the temple’s dignity and ensuring devotee safety.
Appealing for responsible public discourse, Subba Reddy called upon the government, TTD management, and the media to refrain from spreading unverified information and to uphold the sacredness of Tirumala. He stated his firm resolve to pursue a Supreme Court gag order to prevent further reputational damage through misinformation until the SIT concludes its comprehensive inquiry.