Overview
- The Travancore Devaswom Board announced in late July 2026 that it will not procure ghee from outside suppliers for the Sabarimala season and will rely on ghee donated by devotees for Aravana and lamp use.
- Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan has ordered an urgent inquiry by the Secretary (Devaswoms) in consultation with the TDB and reports indicate further criminal-branch scrutiny of the supply chain is being pursued.
- TDB president K. Jayakumar denied any board role in the alleged irregularities, saying consignments were accepted only after sample tests by the Food Safety Department and that the ghee from the previous season has already been used.
- Media reports claim a Milma internal check found diversion or substitution by a contractor, and coverage highlights that official sample testing examines only portions of batches so full-batch verification and traceability remain limited.
- The episode has immediate operational and reputational effects for Sabarimala, prompting promises of stricter batch testing, digital tracking proposals for future consignments, and scrutiny over contractor oversight and procurement controls.