Sabarimala Milma Ghee Diversion Case: Devaswom Board Officials Under Investigation; Minister Seeks Report from Commissioner
Thiruvananthapuram: The investigation into the alleged diversion of Milma ghee meant for Sabarimala and its replacement with substandard ghee has now expanded to include the Travancore Devaswom Board. Devaswom Minister K. Muralidharan, describing the incident as a serious lapse, has sought a detailed report from the Devaswom Commissioner. He said that any act that undermines the faith of devotees is unacceptable and assured that appropriate action would be taken after the report is received.
The minister said the preliminary investigation had already established serious wrongdoing in the case. According to him, those who supplied the ghee, those who purchased it, and certain Devaswom officials all had a role in the alleged irregularities.
The Devaswom Commissioner has been directed to examine the period during which substandard ghee reached Sabarimala and to determine whether there were lapses on the part of the Devaswom Board. The Kerala government believes that, just as Milma is responsible for supplying the ghee, the Devaswom Board also bears responsibility as the purchasing agency.
Meanwhile, Dairy Development Minister R. Bindu Krishna has ordered a separate inquiry under the leadership of a Joint Director. She said a detailed report on the findings would be forwarded to the Devaswom Minister for further action. The Devaswom Vigilance Department has also launched a preliminary investigation into the matter.
According to the Dairy Development Department's inquiry, the malpractice began during the contract award process for transporting ghee. The report found that the tender for transporting ghee from the Pathanamthitta unit to Pampa was allegedly manipulated in favour of a single individual with the support of officials. Investigators also found that after the consignment left Pathanamthitta, low-quality ghee sourced from Tamil Nadu was allegedly mixed with the original load before it reached Sabarimala.
The report states that more than 1.5 lakh litres of substandard ghee reached Sannidhanam, resulting in a loss of over ₹85 lakh to Milma.
Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar has confirmed that the role of Devaswom Board officials will also be investigated. Preliminary findings suggest that some Board officials may have assisted Milma employees in the alleged irregularities. There are also allegations that the ghee was transported from Pampa to Sannidhanam without proper quality inspections. A decision on whether Milma will continue to hold the contract for supplying ghee to Sabarimala is also expected soon.
Meanwhile, media reports reveal that Milma's governing body allowed the resignation of an official facing allegations in the ghee scam. According to the report, Milma official Shine Joseph attempted to resign while the investigation was in progress. However, both the Milma Managing Director and the government representative opposed accepting his resignation, arguing that he was facing serious allegations and that it should not be accepted until the inquiry was completed.
Despite these objections, the Left-led governing body reportedly approved his resignation. The report further alleges that Shine Joseph was the official who recommended the transport tender and approved it despite violations of the prescribed rules.
Authorities will also investigate whether the irregularities in the sale of Adiya Sishtam Ghee are linked to the alleged adulteration of Milma ghee supplied to Sabarimala. The multiple investigations are expected to determine the extent of financial irregularities and the involvement of officials in the alleged scam.