Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has arrested transport contractor S S Binu for allegedly selling 11,040 kg of ghee meant for Sabarimala to two agencies in Tamil Nadu. He was produced before the Kollam vigilance court and remanded in judicial custody for two weeks.This is the first arrest in the case being investigated by VACB’s special investigation team (SIT) on a Kerala HC directive to probe alleged irregularities in the procurement and quality of ghee supplied to the hill shrine. VACB estimated that the diversion of the original ghee and its replacement with a cheaper product caused a loss of around Rs 2.5 crore to Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).Binu had secured the contract to transport ghee from Pathanamthitta Milma dairy to Sabarimala for the 2025 pilgrimage season. According to the remand report, he allegedly diverted the consignment to Sri Venkateswara Traders and Leo Traders in Tamil Nadu for financial gains. SIT found that forged documents were used to transport the ghee through checkposts.The case pertains to allegations that some of the ghee procured from Milma for preparing 20,000 units of aravana was sold en route and replaced with substandard ghee. The alleged diversion came to light after complaints that the entire contracted quantity had not reached the temple. Following a report by the Sabarimala special commissioner, the devaswom chief vigilance officer conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted a report to Kerala HC.Milma did not participate in the open tender for supplying ghee to Sabarimala this season. Its decision not to bid is understood to be linked to last season’s controversy over the alleged supply of counterfeit ghee in its name. TDB had initially said it would not procure ghee this season but later invited tenders after finding that devotees’ offerings would be insufficient to meet demand. Three bidders participated in the tender. Their eligibility will be examined, with approval expected within a day or two.
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