Kerala High Court Establishes SIT to Investigate Sabari Mala Ghee Procurement Irregularities

The Kerala High Court has initiated a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of 165,000 liters of 'Milma' ghee for the Sabari Mala temple. The investigation will focus on discrepancies regarding the quantity supplied, quality checks, and potential adulteration. The bench, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar, approved the team proposed by the state government. SP MJ Sojan will lead the SIT, with Vigilance Deputy SP CH Hari serving as the investigating officer, alongside four inspectors. The court previously noted that the procurement process continued despite objections from the Devaswom Commissioner, raising concerns about how such a large quantity of ghee could be purchased without proper verification and quality assurance.

Prior to the formation of the SIT, Kerala's Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan announced that the Crime Branch would investigate the alleged irregularities. He suggested that the ghee supplied to Sabari Mala might be adulterated and described the suspected flaws as "criminal negligence," warning that legal action would be taken against those responsible. Muraleedharan emphasized that the investigation should be completed within a specified timeframe, ensuring accountability for those at fault. According to him, the Travancore Devaswom Board had entered into an agreement with Milma for the supply of 165,000 liters of ghee for the 2025-26 pilgrimage season. However, he claimed that only 150,000 liters were actually supplied, contradicting Milma's assertion that the full amount was delivered. The minister noted that while 30 batches of 5,000 liters each were sent to Sabari Mala, only six batches were tested, all of which were found to be of substandard quality. Muraleedharan stated that this issue goes beyond mere food adulteration; it represents a betrayal of the faith and trust of the devotees.