Tirupati laddu case: Delhi HC to direct Jagan-linked daily to remove reports against firm founded by CM Naidu

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said that it will order the blocking/removal of news report carried by a newspaper founded by former Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy linking Heritage Foods, a dairy company founded by the State’s current Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, to the Tirupati laddu controversy..Justice Mini Pushkarna said that she will order Jagati Publications, which runs the Sakshi newspaper and Sakshi TV, to remove the articles within 24 hours. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s wife YS Bharathi Reddy is stated to be the chairperson of Jagati Publications. “I will direct them [Jagati Publications] to take it [news reports] down in 24 hours. If they don’t, you [Meta, Google and X] will do it,” the Court said. .The Court was hearing a defamation case filed by Heritage Foods. The suit stated that Chandrababu Naidu founded the company in 1992 and resigned in 1994. The company stated that on February 14, 2026, Sakshi newspaper carried an article on the front page of its Delhi edition. The story alleged that Heritage Foods is owned by Chandrababu Naidu’s family and maintains business relations with the company named Bhole Baba Dairy which has been accused of the supply of adulterated ghee for the preparation of prasadam at Tirupati. According to the suit, the news article in question alleged the following:“The real conspiracy behind Chief Minister Chandrababu’s alleged smear campaign regarding the Tirumala Laddu Prasadam is gradually coming to light. It has been revealed that Chandrababu’s family shares a business relationship with Bhole Baba Dairy, the firm that the TDP coalition government has placed at the centre of this controversy."However, Heritage Foods argued that the allegation was “entirely incorrect” and as the company (Heritage Foods) is in business with Bhole Baba Milk Food Industries. The suit stated that Bhole Baba Milk Food is entirely different entity from Bhole Baba Oroganic Milk which is accused in the laddu scam. Senior Advocates Sandeep Sethi and Anurag Ahluwalia appeared for Heritage Foods today and argued that the allegations are loathsome, and it will have a serious impact on its business because customers may believe that the company is supplying adulterated ghee to the temple. “This is intentional and mischievous and publication. They make no verification. They don’t get in touch with me. Even when the facts are false to your knowledge, you only want to sensationalise,” Sethi said. After hearing the case for some time, the Court said it will pass an injunction order against the defendants. .The Tirupati laddu controversy erupted in 2024 when Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the sacred Tirupati laddus (prasadam from the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple) were made using substandard ghee containing animal fats like beef tallow, lard and fish oil under the previous YSRCP government. Last month, the CBI filed its final chargesheet in the case, stating that it found no beef tallow or lard in the ghee used to make the laddu prasadam between 2019 and 2024. However, it said there was corruption in the case as the nature of adulteration was not animal fat but a mixture of palm oil and other chemicals. However, the probe agency added that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) employees connived with private companies to defraud the TTD. .Update: After the report, the Court passed a detailed order directing the removal of the news content. It has restrained Sakshi TV and Sakshi newspaper from publishing any further defamatory material against Heritage Foods. Justice Pushkarna said Heritage Foods had established a prima facie case, and irreparable harm would be caused to them if the relief is not granted. Therefore, the Bench said that the content must be brought down within 24 hours. If Sakshi TV and the newspaper failed to do it, the social media intermediaries will remove the reports. .[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.