Supreme Court Refuses to Transfer Tirupati Laddu Ghee Adulteration Trial Out of Andhra Pradesh

The Supreme Court on Thursday, November 5, 2026, refused to shift the trial in the multi-crore Tirupati laddu ghee adulteration prosecution outside Andhra Pradesh. The plea by prime accused Machindra Shantaram Lanke was dismissed by a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant with Justice Joymalya Bagchi in New Delhi.

Lanke, a Maharashtra-based dairy businessman, was represented by senior advocate Siddharth Dave. He told the Bench the atmosphere in the State was "politically charged" and said pointed public remarks by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister were derogatory to the prospect of a fair trial for the accused facing the adulteration charges.

Dave pressed the Tirupati laddu case transfer request on the ground that a trial in Andhra Pradesh would stay exposed to emotive public discourse around temple prasadam. He said, "The trial can be shifted to some other neighbouring State where it is not such an emotive issue."

Central agency probe cited

Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the probe lay with the Central Bureau of Investigation, a Central agency. It would not be affected by commentary from political functionaries in Andhra Pradesh and would proceed uninfluenced by such statements.

Chief Justice Kant said an order of the Court already restrained such public commentary. "We have silenced them all with our order. If something happens, you can come to us," he said.

Investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate into the alleged procurement had revealed a ₹250 crore scam involving supply of about 68 lakh kg of fake and synthetic ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams between 2019 and 2024 for use connected with laddu prasadam distributed to devotees in queues at the temple.

The Enforcement Directorate had attached assets worth ₹129.85 crore belonging to dairy firms named in the adulteration matter.

With the transfer plea dismissed, the criminal trial will continue in Andhra Pradesh under the restraint on public commentary by persons in authority, with the Central agency investigation continuing.