Sabarimala Prasadam Discrepancy: Was Rs 8.80 Lakh Worth of Unniyappam and Aravana Distributed to VIPs?
Thiruvananthapuram: Unniyappam and Aravana worth Rs 8.80 lakh allegedly went missing from Sabarimala during the previous pilgrimage season, with official records showing the stock as unfit for consumption. The discrepancy has raised suspicions of possible irregularities involving Devaswom staff.
The matter came to light in a report submitted by Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan to the Kerala High Court Devaswom Bench. According to the report, the Local Fund Audit team detected discrepancies while comparing Aravana stock records with the quantity of prasadam distributed to devotees.
The audit found that the revenue recorded from prasadam distribution was lower than the amount expected based on the stock and distribution figures. A subsequent inspection by the Devaswom Vigilance wing revealed that the missing Unniyappam and Aravana had been entered in the official register as unfit for use.
The Prasadam are normally prepared in September and stored as reserve stock ahead of the pilgrimage season, which begins in November. They are subsequently distributed during the initial days of the season.
However, the Vigilance officials questioned the explanation that the stock had become unusable, pointing out that these offerings can remain in good condition for several months. The fact that the items were suddenly classified as unfit during the pilgrimage season raised further doubts.
Staff members responsible for prasadam distribution reportedly told the authorities that the Unniyappam and Aravana had been distributed to VIPs who visited Sabarimala for darshan. However, they failed to explain why the items were entered in the register as unfit for consumption.
The Vigilance wing has not accepted the explanation that prasadam worth Rs 8.80 lakh was distributed to VIPs, and has brought the discrepancy to the attention of the Special Commissioner.
Following the findings, the Special Commissioner informed the High Court about the suspected irregularities. The report also recommended stricter accounting procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It has been suggested that all prasadam distributed to VIPs should be properly recorded in the official register. Maintaining such records would ensure transparency in stock management and help prevent possible misuse of Devaswom resources.