*Why govt inquiry on CBI–SIT report? dares to go to SC*: *Bhumana*

Tirupati/Tadepalli, Feb 3: YSRCP leader and former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy strongly questioned the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to order a fresh inquiry into the Tirumala laddu issue despite a CBI–SIT investigation monitored by the Supreme Court, asking why the state was attempting to re-examine a matter already probed under the apex court’s supervision. Speaking to the media in Tirupati, he said the SIT report and associated NDDB and NDRI laboratory findings clearly stated that no animal fat was detected in the ghee used for Tirumala laddus, and stated that the government’s move indicated discomfort with those findings. He challenged the government to approach the Supreme Court directly if it believed the SIT report was incorrect and prove its claims there instead of initiating parallel exercises.

Bhumana argued that the controversy began after public allegations about animal fat in laddu ghee, which later led to a Supreme Court-directed SIT probe. According to him, after a year-long investigation, the SIT did not confirm the allegations of animal fat, fish oil, or lard. He claimed that instead of accepting these findings, the government was attempting damage control and political diversion. He further stated that dairy firms such as Bhole Baba (earlier Harsh Dairy) and Premier Dairy had been supplying ghee since the previous TDP tenure and said records showed their participation and approvals dated back to that period. He maintained that the YSRCP government neither diluted norms to bring these firms nor newly introduced them, but continued with existing systems and officials.

He also referred to past TTD procurement decisions, claiming that as early as 2018 flavoring was added to ghee due to quality issues and that large quantities were procured under decisions taken during the previous regime. He said several technical officials involved then continued later as well and some are now named in investigations, arguing this showed the issue was administrative and technical rather than political. Bhumana asserted that if the government was sincere, it should permit a comprehensive probe covering supplies since 2014, not selectively target a specific period.

He further said that tankers earlier flagged for quality were actually used during the present coalition period, and asked who should bear responsibility in that case. He said multiple consignments were rejected during the YSRCP tenure on quality grounds and insisted this reflected stricter enforcement, not negligence. According to him, blaming former TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy or the previous government despite the CBI not naming them indicated a political motive.

Stating that only courts, not the state cabinet, have authority over a CBI report submitted under Supreme Court direction, Bhumana warned against the attempts to deliver political verdicts outside the judicial process. He reiterated that YSRCP had nothing to hide and had in fact sought investigation earlier. “If anyone is guilty, punish them, but do not twist facts for politics,” he said, adding that faith in Lord Venkateswara should not be used as a political tool.

In Tadepalli, former minister Vellampalli Srinivas echoed similar concerns, saying the cabinet focused on the laddu issue instead of welfare and development decisions, and accused the government of using ministers to politically justify earlier allegations. He noted that NDDB and NDRI reports did not mention animal fat and said forming new committees while the matter is before the Supreme Court raises constitutional concerns. He added that YSRCP had no objection to a full-period probe from 2014 onward, pointed out that Y.V. Subba Reddy’s name does not appear in the CBI report, and warned that the party would pursue legal recourse if actions contradicted Supreme Court directions. He concluded that the government was politicizing the laddu issue and that YSRCP would continue countering what he termed misinformation before the public.