Pathanamthitta: Two major investigations at the Sabarimala shrine moved forward on Tuesday, bringing renewed focus on financial accountability and asset protection at one of Kerala’s most prominent temples. One concerns alleged embezzlement in the sale of sacred offerings, while the other relates to the loss of gold from temple idols and fittings.

High Court orders vigilance probe into Rs 35 lakh ghee sale irregularities

The Kerala High Court has ordered a detailed vigilance investigation into the suspected misappropriation of nearly Rs 35 lakh from the sale of Adiya Sishtam Ghee at Sabarimala over a period of less than two months.

Acting on a suo motu case based on a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, a Division Bench directed the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to form a special team and register a criminal case. The court said the scale of diversion detected in a short period raised serious concerns about deeper and long-standing misuse of funds across revenue streams at the shrine.

The report showed that between November 11 and December 26, 2025, 16,628 packets of ghee priced at Rs 100 each were sold, but the proceeds were not credited to the Devaswom account. Of the total 89,129 packets sold, payments for 13,679 packets, amounting to Rs 13.67 lakh, were not remitted. The court also noted a shortage of 22,565 packets in stock, which would have generated another Rs 22.65 lakh.

The Bench said the lapses pointed to criminal misappropriation, falsification of records and corruption, rather than mere negligence. It flagged poor record-keeping as a deliberate attempt to facilitate siphoning of funds and highlighted systemic failures in supervision and stock control.

The Travancore Devaswom Board informed the court that the officer concerned had been suspended and preventive guidelines issued. The court, however, referred to earlier cases of misappropriation, including a Rs 40 lakh petrol pump fraud, and questioned whether senior officials were unaware or wilfully blind. The VACB team has been asked to submit a progress report within one month and will report only to the court.

Vigilance court allows arrest of Sabarimala chief priest in gold loss case

In a parallel development, a vigilance court allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to arrest Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in connection with the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols.

Rajeevaru had already been arrested last week over the disappearance of gold from the Sreekovil door frames during replating work. With the court’s latest order, he becomes the 11th accused in the case, which is being probed by an SIT constituted by the Kerala High Court.

The chief priest will be produced before the court within 24 hours of his formal arrest. His bail plea has been posted for January 19, by which time the SIT must file its response.

The court also extended the custody of former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar, another accused in the gold loss cases, by 14 days.