Sabarimala Aadi Shishtam Ghee scam; Vigilance makes first arrest: Keezhsanthi Sunil Kumar Potty held

PATHANAMTHITTA: Vigilance has arrested Sunil Kumar Potty, a Devaswom employee, in a case of irregularities worth lakhs in the sale of Adiya Shishtam Ghee at Sabarimala Sannidhanam. He was arrested by the Pathanamthitta unit of Vigilance. Sunil Kumar, the 13th accused in the case, worked as a keezhasanti in the temple. He was earlier suspended by the Devaswom Board. An investigation is underway against 33 people, including Devaswom employees and santis, for the irregularities. Sunil Kumar Potty was produced before the Kollam Vigilance Court. He is an employee of the Chaliyekkara Devaswom in the Punalur Group of the Devaswom Board. This is the first arrest in the ghee sale scam that came to light after the Sabarimala gold robbery.

Adiya Shishtam Ghee refers to the consecrated ghee left over after the Neyyabhishekam ritual (anointing the idol with ghee) at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Three lakh fifty-two thousand two packets of ghee were distributed from November to December 2025. There are no records regarding 13,679 packets of ghee. It was found that irregularities worth about Rs 35 lakh had taken place in a short period from November to December 2025. 100 ml of ghee is sold to devotees at a rate of Rs 100. The income from the offerings at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam should go to the Devaswom Board. However, the initial inspection has found that the money has not reached the account. It has also been found that the Mahazar of the ghee packets was not accurate.

Vigilance action was tightened following the High Court's strong criticism that there were employees on the board who were interested in looting money.