Published Oct 25, 2026 | 3:02 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 25, 2026 | 3:02 PM
The suspected diversion came to light during a preliminary inquiry.
Synopsis: Keralam Vigilance officials have arrested transport contractor SS Binu for allegedly diverting 11,040 kg of ghee meant for Sabarimala to two firms in Tamil Nadu and replacing it with inferior-quality ghee, earning an estimated ₹50 lakh. The Vigilance Court in Kollam remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. Investigators alleged forged invoices, altered vehicle registration numbers and manipulated batch numbers were used to divert the consignments.
Keralam Vigilance officials have arrested transport contractor SS Binu for allegedly diverting 11,040 kg of ghee meant for Sabarimala to two firms in Tamil Nadu and replacing it with inferior-quality ghee. The Vigilance Court in Kollam remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. He is the first person arrested in the case.
Investigators found that consignments supplied by Milma from its Pathanamthitta dairy to the Travancore Devaswom Board were diverted to Sri Venkiteswara Traders and Leo Traders in Oddanchatram, Tamil Nadu. The ghee was meant for preparing aravana, the temple’s prasadam, and for rituals during the Mandala pilgrimage. The alleged diversion is estimated to have earned Binu ₹50 lakh.
The ghee was procured for preparing the famed aravana prasadam.
Forged invoices and altered vehicle registration numbers were used to divert the consignments, according to the investigation. Batch numbers were also allegedly manipulated to evade food safety scrutiny. Binu faces charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption. Vigilance officials began the investigation by questioning Milma officials. More arrests are expected.
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The suspected diversion came to light during a preliminary inquiry by Dairy Development Director Shalini Gopinath, which found evidence that premium ghee meant for Sabarimala had been replaced with inferior-quality ghee. The inquiry examined suspected tampering with consignments before they reached the store at the Sannidhanam.
The Travancore Devaswom Board had contracted Milma to supply 1.65 lakh litres of ghee in 2025-26. Milma delivered about 1.5 lakh litres in 30 consignments of 5,000 litres each. All six consignments examined so far reportedly failed to meet the prescribed quality standards.
The State government ordered a Crime Branch investigation following a report by Devaswom Secretary MG Rajamanickam. Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said the report contained serious findings warranting a criminal investigation.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
