Sabarimala Ghee Irregularities: Setback for P.S. Prasanth; His Own Handwritten Note Turns into a Key Piece of Evidence
Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance Special Investigation Team (SIT) has reportedly obtained crucial documents that could put former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth and former board member A. Ajikumar in a difficult position in the Sabarimala ghee irregularities case.
The investigation team has obtained a handwritten note prepared by P.S. Prasanth, directing the cancellation of the existing tender and the direct purchase of ghee from Milma. The documents reportedly indicate that the decision to purchase ghee directly from Milma was taken despite strong opposition from the Devaswom Commissioner.
The note written by Prasanth states: “The cancellation of the existing tender is permitted. The Board has decided to purchase ghee from Milma.” The document also states that the Sabarimala Executive Officer was entrusted with determining the required quantity of ghee based on quality considerations.
The Vigilance team is investigating whether irregularities were involved in the hurried move to bypass the tender process and procure ghee directly from Milma.
The contract was for the purchase of 1.65 lakh litres of ghee. While records show that 1,65,000 litres of ghee were purchased, the ledgers at Pampa and Sannidhanam record the receipt of only 1,61,535 litres. This has raised questions over the whereabouts of approximately 3,465 litres of ghee. The Vigilance team is examining whether the missing quantity was diverted while in transit or whether discrepancies were created in the records.
The investigation into the quantity discrepancy is currently focusing on a contract employee. The SIT is examining the entire process, from the dispatch of ghee from Milma to its arrival at Sabarimala and subsequent entry into the stock records.
The Vigilance SIT is now examining the entire chain of events—from the decision to cancel the tender and purchase ghee directly from Milma to the discrepancies in the quantities recorded in the official documents—to determine whether there was a larger network of irregularities.