The Supreme Court on Thursday, November 5, refused to transfer the trial in the alleged Tirupati temple laddu ghee adulteration case out of Andhra Pradesh, holding that no case had been made out for shifting the proceedings to another state at this stage.

Source: LiveLaw

A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a criminal transfer petition filed by Machindra Shantaram Lanke and M/s Malganga Milk and Agro Products. Lanke, a Maharashtra-based dairy businessman and Managing Director of Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd, is one of the accused in the case.

Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for Lanke, submitted that political leaders were continuing to make statements about the case, creating a hostile atmosphere for a fair trial. "It has become a political issue. There is a hostile environment in the state. The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister have made statements," Dave said, as reported by LiveLaw. He further claimed that even though the forensic report had ruled out the presence of animal fat in the ghee, political leaders were still making such statements — a submission made on behalf of the accused, which remains to be tested at trial.

Dave argued that although the trial judge might not be influenced by the comments, a fair prosecution could not be expected in such a scenario, and prayed that the trial be shifted to a neighbouring state. He also cited a language barrier, saying most of the accused are from the north while the prosecution is being conducted in Andhra Pradesh.

The Bench, however, expressed its disinclination to entertain the plea. It pointed out that the investigation was done by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court itself, and that most of the witnesses and the evidence are from Andhra Pradesh itself. "No case made out to transfer trial. Dismissed," the Bench said, according to Bar and Bench.

Source: Bar and Bench

Responding to the submissions, the CJI-led Bench observed that the Supreme Court had already "silenced them all with our order", and added that the petitioners could approach the apex court again if any such issue arose, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

Background to the case

The case arises from allegations — which remain allegations to be tested at trial, with every accused entitled to the presumption of innocence — of adulteration of ghee used in the preparation of laddus offered as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati. The controversy has been politically charged in Andhra Pradesh.

The CBI-led SIT filed its final charge sheet before an Anti-Corruption Bureau court in Nellore on January 23, 2026, after completing the investigation, according to IANS. With Thursday's order, the trial will continue in Andhra Pradesh.