Mumbai: Siddhivinayak Temple on Monday denied allegations of unsanitary conditions in the temple’s prasad preparation area after videos and photographs emerged allegedly showing the presence of newborn rats in a tray of laddus.

Statements Of Sada Sarvankar, President Of The Temple Trust

Sada Sarvankar, president of the temple trust, said the location shown in the media was not part of the temple premises. The temple has 25 workers assigned to the laddu section, operating round the clock in shifts, he said.

“There is no possibility of such unhygienic conditions. When similar concerns arose at the Tirupati temple, our premises were also inspected and were found to be clean, adhering to all safety and hygiene protocols. We take maximum care to ensure hygiene, especially in the prasad section,” Sarvankar said.

Sarvankar suggested that the allegations may have been driven by ulterior motives.

“This seems like an attempt to tarnish our reputation, particularly after the announcement of the temple’s beautification project,” he said.

The official added that the temple uses the highest quality ingredients, including premium ghee, in the prasad.

“Every element, from water to raw materials, is lab-tested before being used. Three government officers oversee the operations to ensure the strictest standards are maintained.”

Amid ongoing controversy over Tirupati prasad, a woman devotee has made a shocking claim that when she broke the laddu given to her as prasadam at the famed Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, she found tobacco wrapped in paper inside. However, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) refuted the allegations and asked her to store the laddu for investigation.

Tirupati prasadam has been in the news since last week after Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, citing a Gujarat lab report, claimed that the sought-after offerings distributed during the previous government’s tenure contained animal fat. CM Chandrababu Naidu’s allegation has sparked a political storm in the state.

Khammam district resident Donthu Padmavati claimed that she visited the Tirupati temple on September 19 and brought back the prasadam to distribute among family and neighbors.

Padmavati said she was heartbroken after finding pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper inside the laddu as she was about to distribute the sacred offering.

Padmavati’s claim came as a major shock to Tirupati devotees, who were already reeling from the news that the ghee used for the laddu was contaminated with animal fat.

These incidents have raised serious doubts among devotees about the hygiene and overall purity of the prasad distributed at famous religious places.

In response, the TTD refuted the claim that Tirupati laddu contains tobacco packets, stating that the viral content has caused unnecessary controversy. The laddus, made with great devotion by Sri Vaishnava Brahmins at the Laddu Potu in Tirumala, adhere to strict protocols and are prepared under constant CCTV monitoring, the TTD explained.

“It is misleading and unacceptable to imply the presence of tobacco in such a carefully regulated process,” the TTD stated.

Nonetheless, TTD contacted the devotee and requested them to preserve the laddu for investigation.

Mumbai: The death of Akshay Shinde, man accused of sexual assault of two minors, while in police custody has triggered a political controversy in Maharashtra. Shinde, who had been working as a sweeper at a Badlapur school, was accused of sexually assaulting two minor students. His death occurred near the Mumbra Bypass while he was being transferred from Taloja jail to Badlapur for further investigation on September 23.

The Maharashtra government claims police acted in self-defence, but Shinde’s family alleges foul play, calling it an ‘encounter’ and demanding justice. Meanwhile, opposition parties are calling for a judicial probe.

Allegations By Akshay Shinde’s Family

Following the incident, Shinde’s body was taken to JJ Hospital for a post-mortem. Outside the hospital, his mother and uncle voiced their suspicions, claiming that the police had beaten him in custody and coerced him into writing something unknown. “They killed him,” his grieving mother reportedly said while speaking to the reporters.

They questioned how he could have snatched a policeman’s gun and opened fire, stating that Shinde, who feared simple things like bursting crackers and crossing roads, could not have committed such an act. His mother also revealed that he had sent a chit asking for money, adding to their belief that something was amiss.

Thane police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre has established an eight-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident. The panel, led by Additional Police Commissioner Punjabrao Ugle, includes several deputy and assistant commissioners of police, as well as police inspectors. The inquiry will examine the circumstances leading to Shinde’s death, with a focus on the police’s claim of self-defence.

What Exactly Happened?

According to the police version, Shinde allegedly grabbed a policeman’s gun while being transported and shot at an assistant police inspector. In response, another officer fired at him, resulting in Shinde’s death at Kalwa civil hospital. The police had been transporting him as part of a probe related to allegations made by his ex-wife, who had accused him of sexual violence.

Family Terms Death As ‘Planned Encounter’

Shinde’s family, however, maintains that his death was a planned encounter. His mother insisted that her son was innocent and incapable of the violence described by the police, adding, “He didn’t even know how to drive a car, how could he fire such a big gun?” She demanded that those responsible for his death be punished.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have supported the police’s account, stating that officers acted in self-defence after Shinde fired at them. Fadnavis, who also holds the home ministry portfolio, dismissed opposition criticism, stating that it was wrong to question the police when they were trying to save lives.