Tirumala Laddu dispute: SIT begins investigation

A nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Andhra Pradesh government to probe the ongoing Tirupati Laddu adulteration controversy, began its investigation on Saturday.

The SIT, headed by Inspector General of Police Guntur Range Sarvashresth Tripathi, comprises Visakhapatnam Range DIG Gopinath Jatti, Kadapa District Superintendent of Police V Harshavardhan Raju, Additional SP of Tirupati Venkat Rao, DSPs G Sitarama Rao and J Sivanarayana Swamy, inspector of Annamayya district T Satyanarayana, inspector of NTR police commissionerate K Umamaheswar and M Suryanarayana, a circle inspector from Kalluru in Chittoor district.

The SIT will also probe the other irregularities that reportedly occurred during the previous YSR Congress party’s regime in Tirumala.

On Saturday, the SIT authorities landed in Tirumala and held a preliminary meeting with TTD managing director J Shyamala Rao and other top officials.

They are expected to meet the Srivari Potu (temple kitchen) staff, various devotees and other stakeholders in the next few days.

The SIT officials are expected to conduct a detailed tour of the famous temple town as part of their probe into allegations related to adulterated ghee used in making laddus at Tirumala temple. They will, if necessary, examine the old stocks of ghee and other ingredients and gather further information and intelligence on the case.

The government order said that the SIT may seek relevant information and assistance from any government department during the course of the investigation.

All government departments cooperate with the SIT in carrying out its tasks and properly transmit any information or technical assistance required.

Likewise, the SIT can seek any external expert assistance by duly requesting the Director General of Police, the order said.