Kerala High Court Orders Probe into Alleged Misappropriation of Ghee at Sabarimala Temple

Kochi, January 14, 2026: The Kerala High Court has directed a detailed investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds from the sale of “Adiya Sistam Ghee” at Sabarimala Temple. The order follows a report submitted by the temple’s Special Commissioner on Tuesday, seeking a vigilance inquiry into the irregularities.

Estimated Misappropriation of ₹35 Lakh:
The court found that during the periods November 17 to December 26, 2025, and December 27, 2025, to January 2, 2026, approximately ₹35 lakh from ghee sales may have been misappropriated. The High Court directed the Vigilance Director to form a special team and act based on a report submitted by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

Sales Irregularities:
An inspection conducted on December 14, 2025, revealed that 16,628 packets of ghee sold through the Marmath Building counter had not been properly accounted for in TDB records. The ghee was stored in 700-liter steel tanks and packed into 100 ml packets for sale at ₹100 per packet. Between November 17 and December 26, 2025, 352,050 packets were packed, of which 89,300 packets were sold, but receipts and payments for only 75,450 packets were recorded. This indicates that the proceeds from 13,679 packets, totaling approximately ₹13.68 lakh, were not deposited in TDB accounts.

Delayed Deposits and Disciplinary Action:
TDB informed the court that the funds collected from ghee sales between November 24 and November 30, 2025, amounting to ₹68,200, were deposited 17 days late after court directives. The official responsible, Sunil Kumar Poti, was suspended, and the board has proposed further disciplinary action against him.

Next Steps:
The High Court has instructed the vigilance team to submit a progress report within one month, and the final report must be filed only after prior approval from the bench. The investigation aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of temple resources, especially following previous controversies surrounding the Sabarimala temple.