Overview
- The bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran listed the matter for September 26 after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought an early date.
- The Andhra Pradesh High Court held that J. Venkat Rao was not named as a state representative on the SIT and therefore could not conduct the investigation, finding the CBI acted contrary to Supreme Court directions.
- The challenge arises from a petition by Kaduru Chinnappanna, who alleged he was pressured by Rao to give scripted statements that were videographed.
- In 2024, the Supreme Court constituted an independent SIT comprising two CBI nominees, two Andhra Pradesh police nominees, and a senior FSSAI official to ensure an impartial probe.
- The case, filed as SLP(Crl) No. 12653/2025, concerns an ongoing investigation into allegations of adulterated ghee used in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ prasadam.