Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Undertakes Foot Journey to Tirumala Temple Amid Prasadam Controversy

Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday began his 3-day journey to Tirumala temple on foot. After performing puja at Alipiri Padala Mandapam, he commenced his journey to the renowned hill shrine.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Undertakes Tirumala Padayatra | WATCH 

He will conclude his 11-day ‘Praschit Deeksha’ (penance) for the adulteration of animal fat in Tirupati laddu with a darshan at Sri Venkateswara Temple, also known as Balaji Temple, on Wednesday.

Earlier, Pawan Kalyan commenced the ‘Deeksha’ at the Sri Dasavatara Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Nambur, Guntur district, on September 22, following the puja and rituals performed by the priests.

The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday suspended the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Tirupati Laddu adulteration allegation till next Supreme Court hearing. scheduled on October 3. 

Notably, the SIT was constituted by the state government to probe the allegations.Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said the suspension of probe was announced as a precautionary measure to ensure the investigation's integrity.

All About Tirupati Laddu Controversy

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) came under spotlight over Tirupati prasadam after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were found in the laddus served to devotees at Tirupati temple during the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy's government.

On September 20, TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao in a press conference said lab tests had revealed the presence of animal fat and lard in chosen samples and the board is in the process of blacklisting the contractor who supplied "adulterated" ghee.