The Supreme Court on November 5 rejected a petition seeking transfer of the trial in the Tirupati laddu adulteration case from Andhra Pradesh to a neighbouring State.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the plea filed by Machindra Shantaram Lanke in Machindra Shantaram Lanke v. State of Andhra Pradesh, observing that no case had been made out for transferring the trial.

Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister were continuously making political statements on the issue and argued that the prosecution must be fair. He requested that the trial be shifted to a neighbouring State where the matter would not be such an emotive issue.

The Bench, however, noted that it had already passed orders addressing the concerns raised. Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked that if any further issue arose, the petitioner could approach the Court again.

The Court ultimately declined to entertain the plea and dismissed it.