Kochi: The high court has granted the vigilance special investigating team (SIT) 45 days to complete the probe into the alleged misappropriation of ghee supplied by Milma to the Sabarimala temple during the 2025-26 pilgrimage season.
A detailed audit, with the support of the state audit department, would be needed to examine all transactions relating to the purchase, supply, storage, transportation and utilisation of ghee, including the ghee supplied by Milma to Travancore devaswom board (TDB), according to a report filed by the officer on the progress of the probe. A bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar granted the SIT more time at the request of M J Sojan, the vigilance SP heading the investigation.
In view of the nature and scope of the investigation and the further steps stated to be necessary for its completion, the court granted the SIT 45 more days to complete the investigation. The court had previously ordered a vigilance probe into the alleged misappropriation of ghee on Aug 3, after noticing that TDB allegedly caused a loss of Rs 2.27 crore by bypassing the ongoing tender process and awarding the contract for the supply of ghee for the preparation of aravana prasadam to Milma instead of a Tamil Nadu-based private dairy that had emerged as the lowest bidder. The report further stated that several other witnesses who are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the matter are required to be questioned and examined. The collection and analysis of the call data records and bank statements of the accused persons are also proposed to be undertaken as part of the continuing investigation. Upon perusing the report, the court noted that the SIT had detected several suspicious circumstances relating to the storage, handling and utilisation of Milma ghee.
Accordingly, Sojan sought further time to complete the investigation and place the relevant findings before the bench.