Kerala Vigilance Arrests Deputed Priest in Sabarimala Ghee Sale Probe

High Court oversight now requires a special team with a progress report due within a month.

Overview

VACB’s Pathanamthitta unit arrested K. R. Sunilkumar Potti, a Travancore Devaswom Board–deputed seller of Adiya Shishtam ghee during the 2025–26 pilgrimage season.
He was produced before the Kollam Vigilance Court, remanded to judicial custody by Judge Dr C S Mohit, and shifted to Kollam District Jail.
Vigilance officials allege staff manipulated stock records and failed to remit full proceeds, with a reported loss of about ₹36.24 lakh to the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Preliminary findings cite 16,628 packets priced at ₹100 per 100 ml not credited to the board, while a later filing notes Potti as the 13th accused tied to 62 packets worth ₹68,200 over 17 days.
A Kerala High Court division bench on January 13 ordered registration of a case, formation of a special investigation team, and submission of a progress report within one month.