The Kerala High Court has asked the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged conspiracy involving officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the potential supply of substandard ghee from the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Milma) for the preparation of Aravana during the 2025-26 pilgrimage season at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
The Division Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar was reviewing reports by Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan and the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of Travancore Devaswom in a suo motu proceeding initiated regarding the alleged misappropriation of ghee supplied to Sabarimala.
The court directed the VACB to constitute the SIT and register a case based on the Vigilance Officer’s report. The team was directed not to disclose any details to the media or the public and file a progress report before the court by September 3.
The Vigilance Officer reported that despite the e-tender process initiated, the then Executive Officer, Murari Babu, who passed away in June 2026, had communicated to the TDB that if Milma was used to prepare Aravana, less ghee would be required than usual and that it would result in a better quality product. Since Milma was a State undertaking, it should be preferred for ghee supply to the Sannidhanam. Based on his assertions, the board approved the purchase of 1,65,000 litres of ghee from Milma at ₹510 per litre, abandoning the e-tender process.
It was reported that the Commissioner had opposed the proposal, observing that the superior quality of Milma ghee was unsupported by studies, and that the Executive Officer’s claims on the usage rate of ghee were based on assumptions rather than independent evaluations. The report stated that despite the objections raised, the then TDB president, P.S. Prasanth, and other members, including Aji Kumar, proceeded with the purchase.
The report also expressed apprehension whether the entire quantity of 1,61,535 litres of ghee allegedly supplied by Milma, reached Sannidhanam. The necessity for purchasing additional ghee from Milma was also reportedly unwarranted, since substantial quantities had accumulated at Sannidhanam after the court had directed strict control over its use for rituals.
It was also shown that ₹2.27 crore could have been saved if the board had proceeded with the successful bidder from the e-tender process. The report pointed out several discrepancies related to transport, receipt and accounting as well.
Published - August 04, 2026 12:36 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
