SC setback aside, TDP chief hopes to remain one step ahead of allies BJP and JanaSena Party in the Hindutva sweepstakes, puts rival YSRCP on the defensive.

After Supreme Court censured Chandrababu Naidu's statement on animal fat in Tirupati prasadam, TDP doubled down on the CM's allegations.

What was the proof to show that contaminated ghee was used in preparation of laddoos,” SC asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Justice K V Viswanathan asserted that the report alleging the presence of 'beef tallow, fish oil and lard (pig fat)' is not at all clear and pointed towards the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board's claim that this ghee was never used for the laddus.

The Supreme Court on Monday criticised the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu and came down heavily on him for making a statement about the use of contaminated ghee in preparation of Tirupati Laddoos,

The Supreme Court criticized Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu's public claim about the use of animal fat in Tirupati laddus under the previous regime. The court highlighted the inadequacy of the lab report and questioned the necessity of going public before proper investigation,

The Supreme Court said prima facie, there is nothing to show at this stage that the ghee used in the sample was used for laddus. The next hearing is on October 3.

Naidu made public lab reports that alleged the laddus offered to the deity before being distributed daily among Tirupati temple devotees were contaminated with animal and vegetable fat.

A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan questioned the necessity of making a public statement when an investigation into the matter had already been ordered.

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Andhra Pradesh government over the Tirupati Prasadam row, saying what was the need to go to the press when it wasn't clear that adulterated ghee was used for the preparation of the laddus.