Already besieged by ‘gold theft’ case, Sabarimala management faces another scandal – over ghee sales

Proceeds from the sale of the offering form a part of the TDB’s revenue. The ghee is sold at Rs 100 per 100-ml packet. Lakhs of such packets are prepared and sold over the counters at Sabarimala.

The alleged misappropriation detected by the Temple Vigilance Officer pertains to a period of less than two months, starting from November 17 last year. It was found that TDB employees were allegedly not remitting the proceeds from the sale of the ghee.

The court said, “If the siphoning of amounts for a period just under two months, confined only to the sale of ‘adiya sishtam ghee’, is to the tune of approximately Rs 35 lakh, it is difficult to even imagine the magnitude of misappropriation that may have occurred over a longer period and across other revenue streams. The magnitude of the short remittance, within a limited window of time, is alarming and cannot be brushed aside as an accounting lapse.”

The court observed that it was inconceivable that the siphoning of such magnitude could have been carried out without the knowledge, acquiescence, or wilful blindness of persons occupying positions at the higher rungs of the administrative hierarchy.

Officers at the highest level are entrusted with a fiduciary duty to ensure that adequate safeguards, checks, and control mechanisms are put in place so that the revenue of the temple is properly accounted for, protected, and not siphoned off, the court observed, adding that a failure to institute even basic safeguards amounts to a grave dereliction of duty.

The court said details of the probe should not be revealed to the press and that the team would be answerable only to the court.

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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