The claim that Tirumala laddu prasadam was made with animal fat has been officially demolished. Scientific reports, the final CBI–SIT chargesheet, and the timeline of tanker samples now expose a calculated political conspiracy that weaponised faith, hurt crores of devotees, and dragged Lord Venkateswara Swamy into electoral politics.
Sacred faith turned into a political battlefield
The Tirumala laddu controversy today stands as one of the darkest chapters in Andhra Pradesh’s political history. On 18 September 2024, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, followed by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, publicly alleged that animal fat, including beef tallow and lard, had been used in Tirumala laddu prasadam. The statements were not casual remarks. They were delivered from political platforms, amplified through coalition channels and “yellow media” networks, and framed as an attack on Sanatana Dharma itself. Within hours, the narrative travelled across the country, triggering outrage, anxiety among devotees, and deep damage to the sanctity of Tirumala. Today, that narrative stands exposed.
Science vs Propaganda: The Final Verdict
The CBI-led Special Investigation Team, constituted under the supervision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, has filed its final chargesheet after an extensive, multi-state probe. The report incorporates findings from India’s top dairy science institutions, the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, and the National Dairy Development Board – CALF (NDDB), Anand.
Both laboratories have categorically concluded:
- No animal fat.
- No beef tallow.
- No lard.
- No animal-derived substances whatsoever.
The most faith-shaking claim , that Tirumala prasadam contained animal fat , has been scientifically and conclusively proven false. The chargesheet clarifies that while adulteration with vegetable oils and synthetic additives is under criminal investigation, the entire animal-fat narrative was fabricated propaganda.
The timeline Chandrababu never told the public
The official record exposes a critical fact that was hidden from devotees. All tanker consignments that triggered the controversy belong to the period after Chandrababu Naidu assumed office.
Key dates on record:
- 12 June 2024 – First tanker received
- 20 June 2024 – Second tanker received
- 25 June 2024 – Third tanker received
- 4 July 2024 – Fourth tanker received
- 6 July 2024 – Samples drawn
- 12 July 2024 – Additional samples drawn
These samples were later sent to NDDB-CALF, Anand, and NDRI, Karnal. In other words, the ghee that was tested, debated, and politicised belongs entirely to the current government’s administrative period. Yet on 18 September 2024, before confirmatory results were obtained, the Chief Minister chose to project the issue as a crime of the previous regime, converting a quality-testing matter into a sensational religious accusation.
A convenient distraction amidst governance failure
The political escalation did not occur in isolation. It came in the backdrop of massive public anger over the catastrophic floods in Vijayawada and the capital region in mid-2024, when large areas were submerged and over 20 lakh people were displaced. The government faced criticism over disaster preparedness, relief failures, and administrative paralysis. It was at this exact moment that the Tirumala laddu narrative was pushed to the centre of public discourse. The pattern is now unmistakable: when governance fails, faith is weaponised.
Dragging Tirumala into politics: A Repeated Pattern
Since coming to power, the coalition leadership has repeatedly foregrounded politics around temples, Tirumala’s sanctity, and religious symbolism. The laddu controversy, the continuous invocation of “Sanatana Dharma,” and parallel narratives around temple administration indicate not isolated statements but a political strategy. Tirumala and Tirupati were turned into political stages to divert attention from economic stress, administrative breakdowns, and rising public dissatisfaction. The final chargesheet, by demolishing the animal-fat allegation, exposes not only a false claim , but a method of politics built on faith-based provocation.
A grave question of Constitutional responsibility
How could a sitting Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister make such explosive religious allegations without verified scientific confirmation? The Supreme Court itself had earlier questioned the basis of such claims and cautioned against politicising matters of faith. The final SIT report now vindicates those concerns. This is no longer about political rivalry. It is about the ethics of governance, the responsibility of constitutional offices, and the dangerous consequences of speaking on God before speaking to science.
When lies collapse, accountability must begin
The final chargesheet establishes beyond doubt:
- The charge of animal fat in Tirumala laddu is false.
- Faith was weaponised before facts were known.
- Devotional sentiment was turned into a political instrument.
The damage inflicted, to Tirumala’s sanctity, to Andhra Pradesh’s image, and to the emotional world of millions of devotees, cannot be erased by silence. When God is dragged into politics, truth eventually intervenes. And in this case, the scientific record has spoken.
