Tirupati laddu row: Administrative enquiry does not overlap criminal case, observes SC

Supreme Court confirms administrative enquiry into Tirupati laddu adulteration does not interfere with ongoing criminal proceedings.

The Supreme Court on Monday (February 23, 2026) said an administrative enquiry conducted into the lapses which led to the alleged adulteration of the sacred Tirumala ‘Srivari laddu prasadam’ cannot be said to either overlap or interfere with the criminal proceedings into the affair.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said the one-man committee administrative enquiry initiated by the Andhra Pradesh government would not come in the way of criminal proceedings in which multiple chargesheets have already been filed in court.

The administrative enquiry was initiated to identify the lapses which led to the omissions in the preparation of the laddus. The probe would also delve into the nature of the slip-up, the persons responsible and consequences thereof.

“Such an administrative enquiry, in our considered opinion, cannot be said to overlap the criminal proceedings, which already culminated into a chargesheet and supplementary chargesheet,” Chief Justice Kant observed.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing in the case, said the criminal probe was complete. The FIR in the laddu adulteration was registered in 2024. Eventually, the investigation was entrusted to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of officers and agencies in April of the same year.

The court was hearing a plea by Dr. Subramanian Swamy, who contended that a parallel investigation by the State would undercut the criminal proceedings.