Law & Justice

High Court Urges SIT to Probe All Involved in Milma Ghee Supply to Sabarimala

By PTI

The Kerala High Court has instructed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of Milma ghee to Sabarimala to pursue all relevant leads and examine the involvement of every person who may have played a role. The directive was issued by a bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar after reviewing the SIT’s report on the probe. The report identified the principal accused and noted that some have sought anticipatory bail. It also states that the investigating agency is examining the possible involvement of other officers and employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Call data records and financial transaction details for the relevant period have been obtained and are under examination, and the roles of senior officials of the Board and Milma are being investigated in detail. The bench said it expects the agency to pursue all relevant leads and examine the involvement of every person who may have played a role in the alleged irregularities, regardless of official position or status. It was satisfied with the probe’s progress, noting it was proceeding in the “proper direction,” and urged the investigation to be thorough, impartial, and taken to its logical conclusion. The High Court had earlier ordered a vigilance probe after preliminary evidence from the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer suggested a coordinated action involving certain members of the Travancore Devaswom Board and officials connected with the Milma ghee supply. The court also opined that this may have caused substantial financial loss to the Board and the possible supply of substandard ghee for the preparation of ‘Aravana,’ a payasam made of jaggery and rice that is offered as ‘prasadam’ to devotees at the Lord Ayyappa temple.