Questions raised over Rs 70-crore Travancore Devaswom Board digitalisation project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Questions have been raised over a Rs 70-crore contract for the complete digitalisation of the Travancore Devaswom Board, with a project management unit comprising private individuals currently executing the project originally awarded to KITFRA, a government institution. Revenue and Devaswom Secretary M.G. Rajamanickam recorded his dissent in the file sent to the government for approval after identifying irregularities.

The Kerala High Court had directed the digitalisation of the Devaswom Board while examining the accounts of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. However, the board decided to implement the project in collaboration with Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KITFRA) under an existing agreement. KITFRA's then managing director, Dr Santhosh Babu, and general manager, Rahul A. Raj, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Devaswom Board, agreeing to a consultancy fee of 3.5%.

Meanwhile, KITFRA's managing director formed a separate project management unit to implement the project without the knowledge of the state IT secretary, who is the company's chairman, or its board of directors. The officials subsequently recommended themselves for positions in the unit.

Santhosh was appointed special officer, Rahul chief administrative officer, and K.P. Naufal chief software architect. The Devaswom Board issued an order on May 20, 2026, formalising the appointments. Shortly afterwards, Santhosh resigned as KITFRA's managing director, while Rahul, a Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) officer, took up the post of District Educational Officer in Kanhangad.
Meanwhile, KITFRA was removed from the digitalisation project. The project management unit currently handling the work was formed by individuals who had left the company.