The Kerala High Court has ordered a comprehensive vigilance investigation into the suspected misappropriation of temple funds linked to the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’ at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, highlighting serious financial irregularities in the management of sacred offerings. The directive was issued on Tuesday by a division bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar, who expressed deep concern over the large sum of money that appears to have been diverted without proper accounting or remittance.
According to the court’s findings, proceeds from the sale of thousands of ghee packets—used as a sacred offering and sold to devotees unable to perform the Neyyabhishekam ritual—were not deposited into the Travancore Devaswom Board’s official accounts as required. Records showed that between mid-November 2025 and late December 2025, funds amounting to over ₹35 lakh from unremitted sales and missing stock were implicated, suggesting more than simple bookkeeping errors.
The High Court noted that procedural failures—such as inadequate stock control, irregular record-keeping, and a lack of formal handover processes between staff—suggest systemic problems in supervision and accountability. The bench observed that the alleged misappropriation could not have occurred without the knowledge or acquiescence of personnel in positions of responsibility, making the case appear to go beyond mere negligence.
In light of these findings, the court directed the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a formal case and form a team of experienced investigators. This team is expected to conduct a detailed probe and report its progress to the court within one month. The order emphasizes that the investigation must be thorough and answerable directly to the High Court, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations and the need for transparency in the management of temple funds.
The High Court’s action follows earlier concerns about financial irregularities at Sabarimala, including missing ghee stock and gaps in revenue remittance, and reflects intensifying scrutiny over the governance of temple finances in Kerala.
News as reported
