Kerala HC Orders Probe into Rs 35 Lakh Sabarimala Ghee Embezzlement

• Kerala High Court directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to investigate the embezzlement of Rs 35 lakh from ghee sales at Sabarimala temple.
• The order, issued by Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar, was based on a suo motu petition and a report from the Sabarimala Special Commissioner.
• Approximately 16,628 packets of 'Adiya Sishtam Ghee' worth Rs 100 each, sold between November 11 and December 26, 2025, were not remitted to the Devaswom account.
• The court noted a shortage of 22,565 packets in stock, indicating potential revenue loss of Rs 22,65,500, and deemed it a prima facie case of cognizable offenses.
• The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) suspended the responsible officer, but the court suggested broader involvement in the misappropriation.

Why It Matters: Kerala HC mandates a thorough probe into Rs 35 lakh ghee sales embezzlement at Sabarimala temple.