October 1, 2024: The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a temporary halt to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe concerning alleged adulteration of ghee used in the revered Tirupati laddus. This decision comes in light of the upcoming Supreme Court hearing scheduled for October 3.

The move follows a stern rebuke from the Supreme Court, which criticized the state government for publicizing claims regarding the use of animal fat in the preparation of the famous prasadam without sufficient evidence. Top cop Dwaraka Tirumala Rao confirmed that the decision was made as a "precautionary measure" to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

"We have paused the probe for the time being due to the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court," Rao stated, emphasizing that the SIT had already conducted various inspections and recorded statements during its preliminary investigation.

Earlier this week, the SIT visited a flour mill in Tirumala, where the ghee is stored before being used in the preparation of the laddus, which attract millions of devotees each year. An FIR was filed on September 25, leading to the establishment of the SIT the following day to delve into the allegations.

The Supreme Court's intervention came after the Andhra government faced backlash for its claims, noting that there was no prima facie evidence to support the assertion that contaminated ghee was being utilized in the temple’s iconic offerings.