Leech found in prasad at Tirupati temple: New controversy erupts amid ongoing laddu investigation

TIRUPATI: In the midst of the ongoing controversy over allegations of animal fat in Tirumala temple's laddu, another dispute has surfaced. A devotee has complained that he found a leech in the Prasad served at the temple. Images of the alleged incident have circulated on social media, prompting widespread discussion. However, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has firmly denied the allegations.

The complaint was made by Chanthu, a native of Warangal. He stated, “My name is Chanthu. After shaving my head as part of the ritual, I went to have lunch. While eating Annaprasad, I found a leech in the rice. When I informed the temple staff, their response was shocking—they claimed the leech likely came from the leaves used in cooking. This kind of negligence is unacceptable. If children or others consume contaminated food, who will take responsibility for the health risks?"

Chanthu also alleged that after he raised the issue, the temple staff attempted to insult and threaten him.

In response, the TTD has dismissed the claim as baseless. The temple management stated, "We serve Prasad to thousands of devotees daily, and no such incident has ever occurred. This is an attempt to defame the temple and hurt the sentiments of devotees."

This controversy comes on the heels of another major dispute regarding the alleged use of animal fat in the ghee used for the temple's famous laddu. The Supreme Court had recently appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these allegations, replacing the earlier investigation led by the Andhra Pradesh Government.

The newly-formed SIT consists of two officers each from the CBI and Andhra Police, as well as a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), all under the supervision of the CBI Director. The Supreme Court clarified that this decision was made not out of distrust of the Andhra Police but in consideration of the religious sensitivities involved. Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan also warned against using the court for political battles, emphasizing the importance of keeping religious matters away from politics.

The SIT was constituted after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed petitions requesting an investigation. The Andhra Pradesh government, supported by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and the TTD, informed the court that a report from the National Dairy Development Board lab had been submitted, and that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had made a public statement accusing the previous government, led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, of using adulterated ghee. The court had previously criticized Naidu's remarks, reminding political leaders to avoid dragging gods into political disputes.