Sabarimala ghee scam: Kerala High Court grants 30 days more for probe to VACB

Pathanamthitta: The Kerala High Court has granted an additional 30 days to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to complete its probe into the alleged Sabarimala ghee scam involving the misappropriation of funds linked to the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’.

The sacred offering is sold to devotees at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple, one of India’s famous pilgrimage centres dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.

Probe widened as more TDB staff come under suspicion

A division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar granted the extension after the VACB informed the court that nine more employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) are suspected to be involved in the alleged fraud.

The agency stated that the roles of these additional suspects need to be thoroughly investigated as part of the ongoing TDB corruption probe.

Earlier, the VACB had registered an FIR against 33 individuals in connection with the alleged misappropriation of temple funds from ghee sales.

Poor record-keeping delays investigation

The vigilance agency also told the court that improper and negligent maintenance of records by the TDB has significantly hindered the progress of the investigation, making it difficult to meet earlier deadlines.

Taking note of the submission, the High Court observed that the request for more time was justified.

“Accordingly, a further period of 30 days is granted to conclude the investigation. The Bureau shall seek prior permission of this court before submitting the final report,” the bench directed.

Court orders comprehensive and time-bound probe

The court further instructed the VACB to carry out a comprehensive and exhaustive investigation, clearly identifying the role of each individual involved in the alleged scam and ensuring that legal action is initiated without delay.

The case was initiated suo motu by the High Court in January after a report by the TDB’s Chief Vigilance and Security Officer flagged serious irregularities in Sabarimala ghee sales.

Revenue loss and missing stock details

According to the report, the sale proceeds from 16,628 packets of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’ were not credited to the Devaswom account.

Additionally, there was a reported shortage of 22,565 ghee packets between December 27, 2025 and January 2, 2026, resulting in a revenue loss of ₹22.65 lakh to the Devaswom Board.

The case continues to draw attention as a major temple fund misappropriation case in Kerala, with the outcome of the VACB probe expected to have wider implications for accountability in temple administration.

PTI