Kerala to Recover ₹75.5 Lakh Lost in Sabarimala Ghee Supply Irregularities, Minister Says

Kerala government will claw back an estimated loss of ₹75.5 lakh caused by irregularities in the supply of ghee to Sabarimala, Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Bindhu Krishna told the Assembly on Friday. She said the final investigation report has been handed to the Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau, which will pursue those responsible. A preliminary inquiry found the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co‑operative Milk Producers' Union supplied 1,55,010 litres of ghee at ₹510 per litre, far below the wholesale price of ₹552.42 and the market rate of ₹720, creating a sizable shortfall. The union was dissolved after the inquiry flagged serious irregularities, and further departmental proceedings are in their final stage. The contractor that moved the ghee is also under probe. The Pathanamthitta dairy had awarded a firm a contract to supply ghee at ₹18 per 15‑litre tin and gave it a wholesale dealership for Milma products around Sabarimala. Allegations claim the dairy’s ghee was diverted, replaced with lower‑quality ghee from Tamil Nadu, and then packed in Milma‑labelled tins. Health and Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan said the Travancore Devaswom Board will set up testing at Pampa this year to ensure only standard‑grade ghee reaches the shrine.

Context

The loss reflects a gap between contracted prices and market rates, a common issue in public procurement that can invite fraud. Testing at Pampa is meant to restore pilgrim confidence in the sanctity of offerings.