Officials Allege Cheaper Ghee Replaced Supplies Worth ₹2.5 Crore
AravanaPayasam ghee controversy
Kerala’s Sabarimala temple is reeling under a major alleged ghee scandal.
Vigilance authorities have arrested transport contractor S.S. Binu in connection with the case.
He is accused of siphoning off 11,000 litres of Milma brand ghee meant for the temple’s 2025 pilgrimage season.
According to reports, the loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board is estimated to be around ₹2.5 crore.
It has been alleged that lower quality ghee has been substituted with the regular one.
The ghee that was siphoned off was to be used to make Aravana Payasam, a sweet dish made of rice, jaggery, and ghee.
As per the Vigilance authorities, the original ghee has been sent to two agencies in Tamil Nadu while the cheaper ghee reached the temple through fake invoices and forged documents.
It has been alleged that the scam unraveled after a Kerala High Court ordered an inquiry.
A special Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) team has been investigating the case.
The accused was summoned for questioning before being arrested. However, it is said to be the first-ever arrest in the case.
