The Kerala High Court has mandated a Vigilance probe into alleged misappropriation during the purchase of ghee for the Sabarimala temple. The court noted significant discrepancies after an e-tender process was bypassed for a more expensive procurement.

Key Takeaways

  • Kerala High Court orders VACB to probe Sabarimala ghee purchase irregularities.
  • E-tender process was reportedly cancelled to favor a higher-priced purchase.
  • Estimated loss of ₹2.28 crore due to bypassing the lowest bidder.
  • Former TDB President and member facing investigation.

The Kerala High Court has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to launch an investigation into alleged irregularities and misappropriation regarding the procurement of ghee for the Sabarimala temple. This marks the third major scandal involving the temple management that has required judicial intervention and SIT involvement.

The Core of the Allegations

According to court proceedings, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), led by former president P.S. Prashant and member Ajikumar, allegedly cancelled an ongoing e-tender process. Despite a valid bid of ₹369 per litre, the Board opted to purchase 1.65 lakh litres of ghee from the state cooperative Milma at a significantly higher price of ₹510 per litre. The Board justified this by claiming superior quality, a decision made despite objections from the Devaswom commissioner.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights a systemic failure in the procurement protocols of state-run religious boards. The circumvention of transparent bidding processes suggests a deliberate attempt to favor specific entities, leading to a massive drain on temple resources meant for devotees.

The bypassing of competitive bidding in favor of much higher-priced procurement is a classic red flag for financial misappropriation in public institutions.

Furthermore, the investigation is looking into 'missing' quantities. Discrepancies in transportation and accounting records have raised doubts about whether the full 1.61 lakh litres of ghee were actually delivered. Preliminary estimates suggest that the Board could have saved approximately ₹2.28 crore had the lowest bid been accepted.

Historical Context of Scandals

This is not an isolated incident for Sabarimala. The temple management is already under scrutiny for several other cases, including the theft of gold from temple artefacts and the misappropriation of funds related to the sale of 'adiya sishtam ghee'. The repeated nature of these scandals points toward a need for total administrative overhaul.

Did You Know?: The 'Aravana' prasad, a staple offering at Sabarimala, requires massive quantities of pure ghee, making its procurement a high-stakes financial operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is being investigated in this case?
The investigation targets former TDB President P.S. Prashant and board member Ajikumar.

2. How much money was potentially lost?
The Board potentially lost around ₹2.28 crore by not accepting the lowest e-tender bid.