Kerala Orders Probe Into Counterfeit Milma Ghee Distributed at Sabarimala

An official investigation is underway into the distribution of fake Milma ghee at Sabarimala, placing the state’s dairy sector and temple administration under intense scrutiny. The inquiry follows findings that low-standard and counterfeit supplies bypassed mandatory quality checks, entering the sacred hill shrine during a season meant to uphold strict purity standards.

Devaswom Officials and Dairy Employees Under Scrutiny

Preliminary examinations indicate that Devaswom Board officials allegedly cooperated with Milma employees to facilitate the counterfeit supply chain. Authorities are investigating whether officials blindly trusted suppliers or actively assisted in waving shipments through checkpoints without inspection.

The administrative failure centers on the transit route from Pampa to Sannidhanam. Quality control protocols require rigorous testing before ghee ascends to the temple, but investigators report that shipments were rushed past inspectors without proper examination.

Scale of the Counterfeit Supply and Financial Loss

The dairy development department’s inspection report reveals the staggering scale of the diversion.

Internal Maneuvering and Procurement Manipulation

A parallel report by the dairy department director highlights deep procedural manipulation behind the procurement. Investigators identified an official named Shine Joseph who simultaneously served as unit head in Pathanamthitta and production manager in Thiruvananthapuram, handling both the e-tender request and its headquarters recommendation.

The inquiry notes that officials bypassed the marketing division, discarded open e-tenders in favor of sealed tenders, and manipulated batch numbers specifically designed to evade Food Safety Authority inspections.

Official Response and Next Steps

With the investigation formally handed over to the Devaswom Secretary, leaders from across departments are weighing administrative actions. Dairy Development Minister Bindu Krishna confirmed plans to submit a formal request to the Devaswom Minister, while Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar assured the public that any complicity by board officials will be thoroughly examined.