The sacred Sabarimala temple in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, has been rocked by yet another financial irregularity scandal, coming hot on the heels of the high-profile gold theft case. On January 13, 2026, the Kerala High Court took suo motu cognizance of a vigilance report highlighting significant discrepancies in the sale proceeds of “Adiya Sishtam Ghee” — the sacred ghee leftover after the Neyyabhishekam (ghee abhishekam) ritual, repackaged into 100-ml packets and sold to devotees for ₹100 each.
The court, comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar, described the lapses as amounting to criminal misappropriation rather than mere negligence. The bench directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, form a special investigation team, and probe the full extent of the irregularities, including any involvement of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) employees and higher officials.
According to the report from the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, a contractor packed approximately 3,52,050 packets between November 17, 2025, and December 26, 2025. However, records showed major shortfalls: proceeds from around 13,679 to 16,628 packets (valued at over ₹13.67 lakh in some counters) were not remitted to the TDB accounts. An additional shortage of 22,565 packets was noted between December 27, 2025, and January 2, 2026, leading to a further revenue loss of about ₹22.65 lakh. In total, the unremitted amount is estimated at approximately ₹35 lakh over less than two months during the ongoing Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.
The High Court expressed grave concern over the absence of basic safeguards, such as proper stock verification, timely remittances, handover procedures during staff changes, and robust record-keeping. It warned that if such large-scale diversion could occur in a short period and in one specific revenue stream, the potential for wider, long-term misappropriation across other temple incomes could be far greater. The bench criticized the TDB for systemic failures and “wilful blindness” by senior officials, emphasizing the need for a tamper-proof digital system to track revenues and expenditures.
This ghee controversy emerges amid the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft investigation, where allegations involve the misappropriation of gold from temple artefacts (including Dwarapalaka idols and door frames) during repairs around 2019. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made multiple arrests, including the temple’s former chief priest (Thantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru and others, with the Enforcement Directorate also involved under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The gold case has already drawn sharp criticism of the TDB and the LDF-led state government for alleged mismanagement and lack of oversight.
The TDB has responded by suspending some officials, stating that the amount can be recovered and attributing the issue to individual lapses rather than systemic corruption. However, the developments have intensified public outrage among devotees and sparked renewed political debates. Opposition figures, including BJP leaders, have highlighted a pattern of corruption under government control of temples, renewing calls for greater transparency, accountability, and potentially freeing Hindu temples from state administration.
The VACB investigation is now underway under court supervision, with the team required to submit progress reports. As one of India’s most visited pilgrimage sites, Sabarimala’s administration remains under intense scrutiny, with devotees expressing deep concern over the sanctity and financial integrity of their sacred offerings. The outcome of these probes could have lasting implications for temple governance in Kerala.
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