Supreme Court lawyer Vineet Jindal has filed a formal complaint with the Home Ministry, along with the Directors General of Police (DGP) in both Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, against former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, officials from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), and a contractor accused of supplying adulterated non-vegetarian ghee for prasadam at the renowned Tirupati Temple.
The crux of Jindal’s complaint is the assertion that the actions of the accused parties constitute a grave violation of the religious sanctity associated with the Tirupati Temple, a site of immense significance for millions of Hindu devotees. According to Jindal, the accused knowingly supplied contaminated ghee, which not only poses a direct affront to the faith of devotees but also jeopardises the temple’s status as a spiritual haven.
A pivotal element in the complaint is a report from a private laboratory that revealed shocking findings: the ghee used in the preparation of the temple’s famous laddoo prasadam contained various foreign fats, including palm oil, fish oil, beef tallow, and lard (pig fat). The laddoo prasadam, revered for its purity, is consumed by millions, making any compromise in its integrity a deeply sensitive issue among devotees.
Advocate Jindal highlighted that the temple’s prasadam is not merely a food offering; it holds significant religious value, symbolising devotion and faith. The discovery of these foreign substances has been characterised as not only a health concern but also an egregious assault on the beliefs of Hindus.
Advocate Vineet Jindal filed complaint with Home Ministry @HMOIndia ,DGP, Andhra Pradesh @dgpapofficial and DGP, Uttar Pradesh @dgpup against 1. Jagan Mohan Reddy, former CM Andhra Pradesh ,2. Office Bearers of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) , 3. Contractor who supplied… pic.twitter.com/wZ6PKqFHld
— Anand Narasimhan🇮🇳 (@AnchorAnandN) September 20, 2024
The complaint also references allegations made by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who accused the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of using animal fats and substandard ingredients instead of pure ghee in prasadam preparations. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that former TTD Executive Officer Dharma Reddy awarded the ghee contract to a Delhi-based company favored by the current government, resulting in the supply of adulterated products.
In his complaint, Jindal demanded the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically sections 152, 192, 196, 298, and 353. He argues that these sections encompass serious offenses, including those related to the compromise of religious sentiments and public order.
Jindal contended that the nature of these allegations warrants the invocation of the National Security Act (NSA), suggesting that the potential for public unrest due to the violation of religious integrity could pose a threat to national security. He characterised the actions of the accused as a deliberate and malicious effort to undermine Hindu faith, noting that the prasadam was also distributed during the Ayodhya Ram Temple construction ceremony, thereby extending the alleged desecration to another significant Hindu site.
The practice of consuming prasadam is a deeply ingrained tradition, and the revelation of its adulteration has the potential to ignite widespread outrage among devotees. Jindal emphasises that the accused acted with full awareness of the emotional and spiritual repercussions their actions could have, describing the situation as an “assault” on Hindu sentiments.
The complaint paints a picture of intentional malice, alleging that the accused aimed not only to profit through commissions but also to tarnish the purity of Hindu rituals. Given the profound impact on the religious faith of millions, Jindal argued that the matter demands urgent legal attention, describing the offenses as serious and cognisable.
