Amidst huge row over alleged use of adulterated ghee for making laddu prasadam at Tirupati Venkateshwara temple, a devotee has alleged he found millipede in Anna prasadam served at the temple. The temple board, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, refuted the allegations and called them “false and unfounded”.
Apparently, a devotee who recently visited Tirupati temple alleged he found a millipede in the curd rice served during lunch (Anna prasadam) at the temple. He also charged when authorities of the temple board were alerted, they responded very casually to his complaint.
However, the temple board refuted the allegations and said they were deliberate attempts to defame the institution. In a statement on social media, TTD said, “TTD refutes claims of a millipede in Anna prasadam at Madhava Nilayam, calling them false and unfounded. TTD asserts this is a deliberate attempt to defame the institution and urges devotees not to be misled by false news.”
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“TTD prepares hot Anna Prasadam for thousands of devotees that come for Srivari Darshan and it is unconvincing claim by the devotee that a centipede fell in Annaprasadam. Even if rice is mixed with curd the creature could not go unnoticed,” it said. Calling the allegations fake, the temple board said it was a deliberate attempt to defame the holy institution and hurt sentiments of devotees who consume prasadam at the temple. TTD urged devotees to not get carried away by the allegations.
Recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu kicked up a huge row saying ghee adulterated with animal fat was used to make laddus at the temple during the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy regime. The Supreme Court has ordered an independent probe by a Special Investigation Team into the allegations. The team includes two CBI officers, two Andhra Pradesh police officers and a senior officer from FSSAI. The probe is being monitored by CBI director.