11,040 Kg of Sabarimala Ghee Diverted Using Fake Invoices, Replaced with Cheaper Ghee; One Arrested
Sabarimala: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has arrested a contractor for allegedly diverting 11,040 kg of Milma ghee intended for Sabarimala temple and replacing it with cheaper ghee during the previous pilgrimage season.
The accused, S.S. Binu, a native of Kollam, had secured the contract to transport ghee supplied by Milma to the temple. According to investigators, the alleged fraud caused a loss of around ₹50 lakh to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
The investigation revealed that the contractor allegedly diverted the original Milma ghee to two private firms, Sri Venkateswara Traders and Leo Traders, in Ottanchathiram, Tamil Nadu, instead of delivering it to Sabarimala.
The VACB found that fake invoices and false vehicle registration details were used to carry out the diversion. The original ghee was allegedly replaced with a cheaper product, which was then supplied to the temple.
The diverted consignments were reportedly collected from the Milma dairy in Pathanamthitta on November 5 and December 6, 2025, and January 5, 2026.
Binu is the first person arrested in the case. The investigation was launched following a Kerala High Court directive to examine alleged irregularities in the procurement and quality of ghee supplied to Sabarimala. Further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Milma has reportedly decided not to participate in the tender for supplying ghee during the upcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, following the controversy over ghee supplied in its name last year.
Three bidders have reportedly submitted tenders, with the selection process expected to be finalised on Sunday.
The TDB had initially planned to prepare Appam and Aravana using ghee offered by devotees instead of purchasing it through tenders. However, the board later reversed the decision after assessing that pilgrim contributions would not be sufficient to meet the temple's requirements.
More than 1.5 lakh litres of ghee are estimated to be needed for various purposes at Sabarimala during the annual pilgrimage season.