India, Nov. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea for transferring the trial in the Tirupati 'laddus' ghee adulteration case out of Andhra Pradesh.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the petition filed by accused Machindra Shantaram Lanke, a Maharashtra-based dairy industry businessman and the Managing Director of Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd, in the case.

Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Lanke, submitted that the political leaders were continuing to make statements regarding the case, which has created a hostile atmosphere for free trial.

"It has become a political issue. There is a hostile environment in the state. The chief minister and the deput...