The Kerala High Court has directed the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to investigate the alleged misappropriation in the purchase and supply of ghee by the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Milma) to Sabarimala Sannidhanam to conduct a “foolproof and expeditious probe.”

A Division Bench of Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar noted that certain records were seized from the offices of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Sabarimala, Nilackal, Erumely, Pathanamthitta, Pandalam and Thiruvananthapuram.

Some records were seized from the offices of Milma at Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta as well. Numerous witnesses have also been questioned, the SIT reported.

Irregularities

The court had found irregularities in the procurement of ghee from Milma for the preparation of ‘aravana’ during the annual pilgrimage season in 2025-26, in the reports filed by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan and the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the TDB.

Following this, the court constituted the SIT headed by M.J. Sojan, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). It was reported that the Special Commissioner had objected to the award of tender to Milma. However, the board, under president P.S. Prasanth and other members including Aji Kumar, had approved the order, foregoing the e-tender process that had been initiated. The report also raised concerns about whether the entire quantity of 1,61,535 litres of ghee allegedly supplied by Milma reached the Sannidhanam.

Published - August 17, 2026 10:08 pm IST