Tirupati laddu row: Santhi Homam at Tirumala temple today, AP CM sets up SIT

Tirupati Laddu row: The Santhi Homam Panchagavya Prokshana ritual began at the Tirumala temple early on Monday to restore the sanctity of the Devalayam amid allegations of adulteration of Tirupati Prasadam with animal fat. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter.
Naidu also criticised the former Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government for altering procedures to procure ghee at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). As the political slugfest over the Tirupati Laddu controversy continues here are the top ten latest updates for the same.
-A day-long ‘Samprokshnas’ and ‘Shanti Homam’ began on Monday morning to restore the sanctity of the Devalayam as the allegations over Tirupati Prasadam containing animal fat escalated on Sunday.
-Priests and the executive officer of TTD Rao were seen participating in the ritual early morning on Monday.
-A Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) source confirmed to PTI that the ritual began at 6 am and will last till 10 am, aimed at propitiating Lord Venkateswara Swamy from the alleged sacrilegious practices such as mixing animal fats and beef tallow in making Tirupati laddus (consecrated sweet) and others.
-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday, September 23 to launch an investigation regarding the adulteration of ghee used in preparing Tirupati Prasadam.
-“We are forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers of IGP and above posts. The SIT will submit a report to the government and we will take action based on that report so that such things are not repeated,” ANI quoted Naidu as saying.
-Reacting to the announcement Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Monday told ANI, “An SIT should be formed against PM Narendra Modi. The PM, who talks about Hindutva, has an alliance partner government in Andhra Pradesh, where open mixing of meat into laddus is happening and it is being distributed. This corrupt system that has come to power has now revealed its true face to the people. An SIT is definitely needed, but it should be against PM Narendra Modi, not Tirupati Balaji.”
-Meanwhile, the former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board Bhumana Karunakar Reddy has rejected the allegations of adulteration of Tirupati prasadam with animal fat, reported Times of India. Terming the allegations made by Andhra Pradesh CM as “baseless”, Reddy also demanded a CBI probe into the allegations, reported TOI.
-In another development, YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to intervene in the matter. Reddy also accused Nadu of being a “habitual liar”, reported PTI.
-The allegations of using ghee, adulterated with animal fat, in Tirupati Prasadam, has sparked widespread anger among several Hindu outfits and devotees. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal on Sunday termed the alleged adulteration as a “grave crime” and an “unforgivable controversy”. He also demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the matter, saying that stringent action should be taken against those responsible, reported ANI.
-The controversy surrounding adulteration of ghee used in Tirupati Prasadam with animal fat has raised alarms for Hindu religious places across the country. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) collected 13 samples of items being sold as ‘prasadam’ outside the temples in Mathura and sent them for testing, an official told PTI on Sunday. Additionally, a campaign in the entire district began from Monday where teams will go to every area to collect samples.
-Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, on Monday told PTI, “This incident is not only alarming but also condemnable. The way the sentiments of crores of people have been hurt is completely unacceptable. The government wants to assure you that strict action will be taken against all those found guilty.”
The controversy has also led Hindu religious leaders across the country to demand “freeing” temples from government control. Several spiritual leaders including Sri Sri Ravishankar and Sadhguru have voiced their concern in the matter and raised the demand that the temple management should be overseen by religious leaders.