Kerala High Court has directed the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to form a team to investigate the embezzlement of about Rs 35 lakh in the sale of ghee at Sabarimala temple
in two months.
The order was issued by Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar while considering a suo motu petition initiated on the basis of a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, LiveLaw reported.
The order stated: “If the siphoning of amounts for a short period of just under two months, confined only to the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’, is to the tune of approximately Rs 35 lakhs, it is difficult to even imagine the magnitude of misappropriation that may have occurred over a longer period and across other revenue streams… In the above circumstances, we are of the view that a comprehensive investigation is required to ascertain the full extent of the misappropriation of funds by employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board at Sannidhanam in relation to the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’.”
According to a report, the sale proceeds of about 16,628 packets of Adiya Sishtam Ghee, a sacred offering sold to devotees, sold at Rs 100 at the counter from November 11 to December 26, 2025 was not been remitted to the Devaswom account.
Besides, of the 89,129 packets sold in the counter, the sale proceeds of only 75,450 packets were remitted and the price of 13,679 totalling Rs 13,67,900 was not remitted, Livelaw reported.
The court also pointed out the shortage of 22,565 packets in the balance stock, which would have generated Rs 22,65,500 revenue.
It stated that the case was not the result of mere negligence but a prima facie case of cognizable offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal misappropriation, falsification of accounts/records, etc. as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“The Chief Vigilance and Security Officer shall forthwith forward the complaint dated 10.01.2026 to the Director, Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau. The Additional 7th respondent (Director, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau department) shall constitute a team of upright and competent officers and shall initiate steps to register a crime on the strength of the report dated 10.01.2026 submitted by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer. The team so constituted shall conduct a meticulous, coordinated, and effective investigation into the matters referred to above and those disclosed in the said report. It is made clear that the team shall not disclose any details of the investigation to the public or the media” the court added.
According to LiveLaw, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) informed the court that the officer responsible in the case has been suspended and further action will be initiated against him. It also assured that guidelines have been issued to prevent such incident in the future.
To this, the court said: “It is inconceivable that siphoning of such magnitude could have been carried out without the knowledge, acquiescence, or at least willful blindness of persons occupying positions at the higher rungs of the administrative hierarchy… It appears to us that certain employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board are more interested in siphoning off amounts rather than conscientiously rendering the service entrusted to them.”
