---
title: "Kerala High Court Directs Special Investigation into Sabarimala Ghee Procurement Scandal"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/kerala-high-court-directs-special-investigation-into-sabarimala-ghee-procurement-3ouyl
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-04T07:47:44.000Z
modified: 2026-08-04T10:00:22.832Z
language: en-IN
---

# Kerala High Court Directs Special Investigation into Sabarimala Ghee Procurement Scandal

The Kerala High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged fraud involving Travancore Devaswom Board officials and Milma ghee supplies. Investigators will examine claims of substandard products and a potential 2.27 crore rupee loss to the temple administration.

## Key takeaways

- The Kerala High Court ordered a Special Investigation Team to probe a suspected conspiracy in Sabarimala ghee procurement.
- A potential ₹2.27 crore loss was reported after the Travancore Devaswom Board bypassed an e-tender to buy ghee at ₹510 per liter.
- Investigators are verifying if 161,535 liters of Milma ghee actually reached the Sannidhanam as claimed in documentation.
- The SIT must submit a progress report by September 3 and is prohibited from sharing details with the media.

## Judicial Oversight Triggers Criminal Investigation

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar, has mandated the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The directive stems from a suo motu proceeding examining reports from Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan and the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The investigation targets an alleged conspiracy surrounding the supply of ghee for Aravana preparation during the upcoming 2025-26 pilgrimage season.

The court has imposed a strict gag order on the SIT, prohibiting any disclosure of findings to the public or media during the active phase of the inquiry. A comprehensive progress report must be submitted to the bench by September 3. This legal intervention follows specific allegations that administrative officials bypassed established protocols to favor a state-owned supplier under questionable circumstances.

## Bypassing Tenders and Financial Discrepancies

Central to the probe is the decision to abandon a formal e-tender process in favor of procurement from the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, known as Milma. Records indicate that despite an active tender, late Executive Officer Murari Babu persuaded the TDB to purchase 1,65,000 liters of ghee at ₹510 per liter. Babu had argued that Milma’s product would reduce the volume required for Aravana production due to superior quality, though investigators found these claims lacked scientific backing.
- Financial Loss: The report suggests the TDB could have saved ₹2.27 crore by adhering to the successful bidder from the original e-tender.
- Administrative Dissent: The TDB Commissioner reportedly opposed the Milma deal, citing a lack of independent evaluation for the Executive Officer's efficiency claims.
- Stock Irregularities: Auditors questioned the necessity of the purchase, noting that substantial ghee reserves already existed at the Sannidhanam following court-ordered restrictions on ritual usage.

## Allegations of Misappropriation and Logistics Fraud

The SIT will scrutinize the actions of former TDB President P.S. Prasanth and board member Aji Kumar, who allegedly pushed the deal through despite internal warnings. Beyond the procurement costs, the Vigilance Officer raised alarms regarding the actual delivery of the product. While records claim a supply of 1,61,535 liters, investigators are currently verifying if the entire volume reached the Sannidhanam. The probe will also address widespread discrepancies found in transportation logs, receipt documentation, and final accounting entries for the 2025-26 season supplies.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/kerala-high-court-directs-special-investigation-into-sabarimala-ghee-procurement-3ouyl
Reported from: The Hindu — National