The Kerala High Court has directed a fresh and independent review of an investigation into alleged irregularities and financial loss connected with the sale of Abhisheka Neyy Prasadam at the Sabarimala temple. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the conclusions reached by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and ordered that the entire matter be examined by a senior officer with proven integrity and experience.
Background of the Case
The matter arose from a Special Interim Report submitted by the Kerala State Audit Department's Travancore Devaswom Board Audit Wing. The audit was conducted during the 1201 M.E. Mandalam and Makaravilakku festival season and focused on the handling of Abhisheka Neyy Prasadam, commonly known as Adiya Sishtam Neyy.
According to the audit findings, serious shortcomings were noticed in the collection, filtration, and accounting of ghee used for the prasadam. The report pointed to the absence of proper measurement procedures and highlighted several deficiencies in the system used to track and account for the material.
At the same time, the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala, submitted a separate report alleging large-scale misappropriation at the ghee sale counters operating at Sannidhanam.
Acting on earlier directions of the High Court, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted an investigation into the allegations.
The investigation report concluded that the Travancore Devaswom Board suffered a financial loss of ₹17.14 lakh during the period between November 17 and December 27, 2025, due to irregularities connected with the sale of the ghee prasadam through four counters at Sannidhanam.
However, the Vigilance team stated that poor maintenance of records made it difficult to determine the exact responsibility of individual employees. It recommended departmental action and recovery proceedings while proposing closure of the criminal case against most of the accused persons.
The division bench questioned the approach adopted by the investigating agency.
“The allegations were not confined merely to administrative lapses or procedural irregularities but involved suspected acts of criminal misconduct, breach of trust, misappropriation, and corruption involving public servants entrusted with public property,” the court observed.
The judges noted that the investigation itself recorded the entrustment of ghee packets to officials, a duty to account for those materials, and a resulting financial loss. Despite these findings, the recommendation to drop further criminal action appeared inconsistent with the evidence collected during the probe.
The bench further observed that the issue could not be viewed solely as a case of defective record maintenance when substantial loss to a public institution had already been identified.
Finding the existing conclusions unsatisfactory, the High Court directed that all records and materials gathered during the investigation be handed over to a senior officer of proven competence, integrity, and experience.
The officer has been asked to independently reassess the evidence, re-evaluate the findings of the Vigilance report, and determine whether offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are made out against any of the accused persons.
The court ordered that a comprehensive report be submitted within four weeks and posted the matter for further consideration on July 15, 2026.
Case Details
Case Title: The Joint Director v. The Secretary & Suo Motu v. State of Kerala & Others
Case Number: DBAR No. 1 of 2026 & SSCR No. 3 of 2026
Judges: Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar
Decision Date: June 9, 2026
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