Global Ayyappa Sangamam also under investigation; audit reports ₹3.40 crore loss for Devaswom Board
Pathanamthitta: The Global Ayyappa Sangamam held at Pampa has come under increased scrutiny, with indications that the event is now part of the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) probe linked to the Sabarimala gold theft case. References to the Sangamam appear in the SIT report submitted to the High Court, raising fresh questions about the conduct and funding of the large-scale religious gathering.
According to the SIT report, the Global Ayyappa Sangamam was organized during the tenure of P.S. Prasanth as president of the Travancore Devaswom Board. However, the report notes that the decision to conduct the Sangamam does not appear in the official minutes of the Devaswom Board meeting, pointing to possible procedural lapses. In light of these findings, the Devaswom Board has decided to convene a meeting on Monday to discuss the matter further.
Adding to the controversy, an audit report has found that the Travancore Devaswom Board had a loss of ₹3.4 crore in connection with the Global Ayyappa Meet. The findings are significant because the court had earlier issued strict directions that no funds should be drawn from either the government or the Devaswom Board for conducting the event. The audit report is scheduled to be submitted before the High Court today.
The Board had initially planned to meet the expenses of the Sangamam through sponsorships and external support. Earlier, the Devaswom Minister had stated in a press conference that the total projected cost of the event would be around ₹8 crore. However, it remains unclear whether the full amount was successfully mobilized through sponsorship arrangements.
Audit findings suggest that ₹3.4 crore was drawn from the Devaswom Board’s surplus fund to meet event-related expenses, potentially violating court directives. With both the SIT report and the audit findings now before the court, the conduct, approvals, and financial handling of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam are likely to face detailed judicial examination in the coming days.