Mentioning the alleged financial irregularities in the procurement of “Adiya Sishtam Ghee”, the main sacred article offered to the devotees during worship in Sabarimala temple, the Kerala High Court has directed an independent assessment of the entire issue. The court was half-way displeased with the findings obtained by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), which had apparently tried to give light pensation to the gravity of the losses that the Travancore Devaswom Board had suffered, according to the court.
The division bench led by Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar, noted that the investigation appeared to have focused on administrative lapses and errors in record-keeping instead of the alleged acts pertaining to corrupt offences. The court noted that the findings did not sufficiently address questions of accountability, entrustment of public resources and resultant financial loss.
The bench ordered the VACB to transfer to a senior officer of “proven integrity, competency and experience” “all records, evidence and investigation materials”. The officer has asked to study the whole case individually and decide on bringing a charge against the accused persons for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and provisions under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The court also remarked that the VACB had accepted in its own application that the packets of ghee were handed over to the counter staff to maintain proper records and keeping the stock etc. The agency recognized that there were shortcomings in this process, but did not thoroughly investigate if such shortcomings constituted criminal conduct.
The reviewing officer is given four weeks to bring a comprehensive report to the court before them. The “proven result” of the fresh assessment will be used to decide whether to launch a formal corruption case against anyone accused of misappropriating any funds associated with the sale of the sacred offering.