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Politics The Hindu National Politics • Oct 31, 2026

Sabarimala Ghee Scam Widens: Vigilance Probe Uncovers TDB Employee Involvement in Milma Theft and Distribution

💡 Key Takeaways

•The Sabarimala ghee scam investigation has widened as Vigilance findings revealed the direct involvement of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) employees.
•Prime accused Binu distributed ₹20 lakh among TDB staff out of ₹50 lakh amassed from selling 11,000 kg of stolen Milma ghee to Tamil Nadu firms.
•The Vigilance department is intensifying interrogations and preparing for formal departmental and criminal proceedings against complicit personnel.

NEW DELHI [NCRBuzz Wire] — ### What Happened: The Verified Facts

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM [NCRBuzz Wire] — The investigation into the Sabarimala ghee irregularities has exposed deep administrative complicity as Vigilance findings point to active employee participation.** Official probe records indicate that prime accused Binu allegedly sold 11,000 kg of Milma ghee, diverted from Sabarimala, to two separate commercial entities based in Tamil Nadu.

**Financial tracking by investigators revealed that out of the total proceeds, Binu received approximately ₹50 lakh from the illegal shipments.** Furthermore, the forensic and vigilance audit established that ₹20 lakh from these illicit funds was directly distributed among employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) as their allocated share in the operation.

### Why It Matters: Root Cause & Context

**The widening probe underscores systemic vulnerabilities and administrative lapses within the management of sacred temple offerings and institutional inventories.** Milma ghee is a primary commodity utilized for holy rituals and preparation of temple prasadam at the Sabarimala shrine, making its security and transparent supply chain a matter of high religious and administrative sanctity.

**The direct involvement of internal board staff breaches fiduciary duties and statutory guidelines governing temple administration under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act.** Unauthorized diversion of ritual supplies not only damages public trust but also invites stringent anti-corruption measures against public servants and board functionaries.

### What Lies Ahead: Impact & Next Steps

**The Vigilance department is slated to expand its interrogation of identified TDB personnel and corporate buyers in Tamil Nadu to recover misappropriated funds.** Administrative authorities have indicated that departmental disciplinary proceedings alongside criminal prosecutions will be formally initiated based on the final compliance report.

| Investigation Metric / Entity | Details & Findings |

|---|---|

| Prime Accused | Binu |

| Stolen Quantity | 11,000 kg of Milma ghee |

| Employee Share Distribution | ₹20 lakh distributed among TDB staff |

| Primary Accused Cut | ₹50 lakh from illegal sales |

| Market Destinations | Two companies in Tamil Nadu |

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🏛️ Background Context

The management of ritual commodities and offerings at major pilgrimage centers like Sabarimala operates under strict legal oversight by temple boards and state regulations. Incidents of inventory leakage or misappropriation trigger intensive anti-corruption investigations, administrative restructuring, and legal accountability under public trust doctrines.

💡 Citizen & Commuter Quick Explainer (FAQ)

Q1: What triggered the widening of the Sabarimala ghee investigation?

The probe widened after the Vigilance department uncovered that prime accused Binu distributed ₹20 lakh to Travancore Devaswom Board employees as a share of proceeds from stolen Milma ghee.

Q2: How much stolen ghee and money were involved in the illegal transaction?

A total of 11,000 kg of Milma ghee stolen from Sabarimala was sold to two companies in Tamil Nadu, fetching ₹50 lakh for the prime accused.

Q3: What are the immediate next steps by the authorities?

The Vigilance department is expanding interrogations of the implicated TDB personnel and corporate buyers in Tamil Nadu ahead of formal disciplinary and criminal actions.

Verified Wires: The Hindu National Politics Original Wire Dispatch ↗

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