Representational Image | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Kochi: A laboratory report has found residues of insecticide in the cardamom used for the famous ‘Aravana Payasam’ given to devotees of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. The test was conducted at an analytical laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram following the direction of the Kerala High Court.
The court had earlier sought a report on the quality of spices used for preparing the ‘prasadam’ on the basis of a petition filed by S Prakash, owner of Ayyappa Spices, an agency that used to supply cardamom for making the Aravana in Sabarimala.
The report will be filed before the court’s Devaswom bench, comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and PG Ajithkumar, on Thursday.
The petition alleged that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had been purchasing cardamom locally instead of inviting open tenders. In fact, the TDB had earlier invited three tenders, but they were cancelled citing ambiguous reasons.
According to the petition, local cardamom purchases are currently being made for Rs 1,558 per kilogram, whereas the petitioner had quoted a price of Rs 1,491 per kilogram.
Reportedly, the cardamom, which was collected in the presence of Sabarimala special commissioner, was sent for lab test on December 23.
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