Adiya Sishtam Ghee Irregularity: First Phase of Vigilance Inspection at the Sannidhanam Completed
The first phase of the Vigilance inspection at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam has been completed in connection with irregularities in the ghee used for offerings. The investigation is focused on the disappearance of 13,675 packets of ghee. Employees allege that everyone who worked at the counters has been made an accused without any proper inspection.
It was during the last Mandala season that ghee packets worth 13 lakh rupees went missing. Following the registration of the case, the Vigilance has been examining files from previous years as well. The inspection has made it clear that the sale of ghee packets was carried out without proper counting or documentation. After the issue became controversial, accurate accounting was introduced in ghee sales.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that 30 santhikars (temple assistants) who worked across four counters during the Mandala season were made accused without any inspection or investigation. They claim that it was other employees who informed the Vigilance about the irregularities of a person named Subrahmanyan Potti, against whom the Devaswom Board had taken action. They say they lack the courage to come forward due to fear of retaliatory action. Their question is how santhikars who come from different places and do not even know each other could carry out such a fraud.
They also state that ghee sales were conducted with the support of certain senior officials at the Sannidhanam. It is alleged that there is no accounting even for the ghee given to VIPs arriving for darshan. At the same time, the inspection also suggests that senior Devaswom officials may have been involved in irregularities related to Padipooja offerings.