Sabarimala ghee procurement row: Vigilance widens probe to blacklisted contractor, LDF-era figures

Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance investigators have reportedly received information linking a previously blacklisted contractor to the alleged irregularities involving Milma ghee supplied for Sabarimala. Officials believe the contractor was responsible for transporting the ghee to the inspection centre at Pamba, where it underwent food safety checks before being sent to the hill shrine.

The investigation focuses on the previous Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, when 1.77 lakh litres of ghee were procured from Milma. According to investigators, genuine Milma ghee purchased at ₹510 per litre was allegedly diverted before counterfeit ghee sourced from Tamil Nadu was supplied to Sannidhanam in its place.

The contractor had earlier been blacklisted in connection with a Nilakkal parking tender. Investigators suspect he later secured multiple contracts through benami entities. He is also reported to operate a Milma canteen in one of Kerala's districts.  

Probe expands to officials, political links and warehouse network

Vigilance is now examining the contractor's alleged links with both the Travancore Devaswom Board and Milma. The inquiry has also expanded to investigate politically influential figures in the Dairy Development Department and the Travancore Devaswom Board who served during the previous LDF government.

Investigators believe the alleged operation may have been planned over several years. Before Milma became the supplier, ghee for Sabarimala had been procured from a Tamil Nadu-based company for two pilgrimage seasons. Vigilance suspects that period may have marked the beginning of the alleged scheme.

The agency has also placed warehouses allegedly linked to the contractor under surveillance at Naranamthodu and Attathodu along the Sabarimala forest route, as well as in Ranni and Erumeli.

According to the investigation, consignments of genuine Milma ghee and counterfeit ghee brought from Tamil Nadu were transported to these warehouses. Officials suspect the original stock was replaced with fake ghee at these locations before the consignments were dispatched to Sannidhanam.