The Supreme Court has declined to entertain a petition filed by Subramanian Swamy challenging the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to set up a separate committee to examine aspects of the Tirupati laddu controversy.

A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the committee constituted by the State is administrative in character and does not interfere with the criminal investigation already conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT probe, which had earlier been directed by the Court, has culminated in the filing of charge sheets.

Swamy had contended that the one-member panel formed by the State government could overlap with or dilute the findings of the SIT, particularly in relation to allegations that adulterated ghee was used in preparing the Tirupati laddu prasadam. He urged the Court to halt the functioning of the committee on this ground.

The Bench, however, found no merit in the apprehension. It clarified that the SIT’s mandate concerns criminal culpability, while the State-appointed panel is meant to examine possible administrative lapses. Since both processes operate in separate domains and pursue different objectives, there was no legal basis to interfere with the government’s decision.

Accordingly, the Court rejected the plea.

The controversy arose from allegations that substandard or improper ingredients were used in the preparation of laddus distributed at the Tirumala temple, leading to public concern and a series of legal proceedings.