Sabarimala 'Adiya Sishtam Ghee' Irregularities: Government Appoints Special Investigating Officer
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed a senior Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) officer to conduct a fresh and detailed probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds in the sale of 'Adiya Sishtam Ghee', a sacred offering distributed to devotees at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple.
The Kerala government informed the High Court that M.J. Sojan, IPS, Superintendent of Police, VACB Special Cell, Ernakulam, has been appointed to reassess whether a corruption case should be registered against employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in connection with the alleged financial irregularities.
Taking note of the submission, a Division Bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar directed the officer to examine all relevant records, including reports prepared by the Audit Department and the TDB's Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, and carry out a comprehensive investigation.
The court granted the officer two months to complete the inquiry and ordered him to submit a detailed report by September 23. The officer had sought additional time to complete the investigation, including determining criminal liability, if any.
The fresh inquiry follows the High Court's June 9 order directing an independent re-evaluation of the alleged misappropriation after expressing dissatisfaction with the earlier VACB report. The court observed that the vigilance agency's findings appeared to downplay the seriousness of the financial loss suffered by the Devaswom Board.
According to the earlier VACB report, poor maintenance of records made it impossible to fix individual responsibility on the TDB employees who served as Temple Special Officers and counter staff during the relevant period. The agency stated that all 43 employees named in the case were collectively responsible for the loss and recommended strict departmental action against them to prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, the High Court disagreed with the recommendations, observing that the case involved substantial financial loss, unexplained accounting deficiencies, and failure to account for entrusted property, making a deeper investigation necessary.
The Bench had remarked that the matter should be reconsidered by a senior officer with "impeccable integrity, proven competence, and adequate experience."
The court had earlier ordered an investigation into the alleged loss of more than Rs 17 lakh suffered by the TDB due to irregularities in the sale of Adiya Sishtam Ghee at Sannidhanam between November 17, 2025, and December 27, 2025.
The proceedings were initiated by the High Court on its own after a report submitted by the TDB's Chief Vigilance and Security Officer alleged that the sale proceeds from 16,628 packets of ghee sold at the shrine had not been deposited into the Devaswom Board's account.