The Kerala High Court has granted the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) an additional 30 days to complete its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds from the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’ at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa shrine.
A Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar issued the extension after the probe agency revealed that the scope of the investigation has widened, with nine additional Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) staff members now under suspicion.
The legal proceedings began in January when the High Court initiated a suo motu petition following a report by the TDB’s Chief Vigilance and Security Officer. The report highlighted a significant financial leak in the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’—a sacred offering sold to devotees.
Initial findings indicated that the proceeds from 16,628 packets of ghee were never remitted to the Devaswom account. Furthermore, a shortage of 22,565 packets was recorded between December 27, 2025, and January 2, 2026. This discrepancy resulted in an estimated revenue loss of ₹22,65,500 to the Devaswom.
The VACB, which had initially registered an FIR against 33 individuals, informed the court that the number of suspects is likely to rise. The agency submitted that the roles of nine more TDB employees are currently under the scanner, necessitating a more detailed inquiry.
However, the investigation has faced significant roadblocks. The Bureau told the High Court that “careless and improper maintenance of records” by the TDB has hampered the progress of the probe. These administrative lapses have made it difficult for the team—composed of “upright and competent officers” as per previous court mandates—to reconcile the accounts within the original timeframe.
Satisfied that the request for more time was justified given the complexity of the case and the TDB’s record-keeping issues, the Bench allowed the 30-day extension.
The court directed the VACB to conduct a “comprehensive and exhaustive probe,” emphasizing the need to fix responsibility on every individual involved.
“We direct the Bureau to seek permission of this court prior to submitting the final report,” the Bench stated, ensuring judicial oversight over the conclusion of the investigation. The court further ordered the agency to proceed in strict accordance with the law to ensure that appropriate action against the culprits is taken without further delay.
