By Lakshmi Jyothish
Looking into the serious lapses in financial oversight at the Sabarimala temple, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to probe the alleged embezzlement of nearly ₹35 lakh from ghee sales within a span of less than two months.
The allegations point to a “deep-rooted, systemic failure”. The court has asked the Director of the VACB to constitute a special team to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the irregularities reported during the recent pilgrimage season.
The court was told that substantial revenue generated from the sale of ghee, used by devotees for ritual offerings at the hill shrine, had allegedly been siphoned off, raising concerns over accountability in the management of temple finances.
Taking note of the submissions, the Bench said that the issue could not be treated as a routine accounting lapse.
“This is not an isolated aberration but indicates a systemic breakdown,” the court observed.
The court also added that institutions handling public money, particularly religious bodies that depend on devotees’ offerings, are bound by a higher standard of transparency.
The vigilance team has been directed to examine the roles of officials involved in the procurement, storage and sale of ghee, and to ascertain whether the alleged embezzlement involved collusion or extended beyond the current season.
The VACB has been asked to initiate the probe l and place a status report before the court. The matter will be taken up for further hearing once preliminary findings are submitted.
Sabarimala, one of the country’s largest annual pilgrimage centres, witnesses massive financial transactions during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, with governance and financial controls at the shrine frequently coming under judicial scrutiny.