{
  "id": 14906682,
  "title": "Keralam Assembly: Govt will recover ₹75.5-lakh loss from Sabarimala ghee irregularities, says Minister Bindhu Krishna",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/keralam-assembly-govt-will-recover-75-5-lakh-loss-from-sabarimala",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T08:10:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/keralam-assembly-govt-will-recover-755-lakh-loss-from-sabarimala-ghee-irregularities-says-minister-bindhu-krishna/article71591482.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Keralam government plans to recover approximately ₹75.5 lakh in losses incurred due to irregularities related to the supply of ghee to Sabarimala, according to Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Bindhu Krishna. Responding to inquiries during Question Hour in the Kerala Assembly, Krishna stated that all relevant files pertaining to the alleged scam will be submitted to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) following the completion of the final investigation report. Preliminary inquiries conducted by the Dairy Development Department revealed that the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union (TRCMPU) had supplied 1,55,010 litres of ghee to Sabarimala at a price of ₹510 per litre, while the wholesale price was ₹552.42 and the market price was ₹720 per litre, resulting in a substantial financial loss. The TRCMPU had been dissolved following the preliminary inquiry due to the serious irregularities discovered. Additionally, the investigation is also focusing on the role of the contractor responsible for transporting the ghee to Sabarimala. The Pathanamthitta dairy had contracted a company at ₹18 per 15-litre tin to supply ghee to the shrine, which was also involved in the distribution of Milma products. Allegations suggest that the ghee transported from the Pathanamthitta dairy was tampered with and substituted with lower-quality ghee sourced from Tamil Nadu before being packed in Milma-labelled tins, further intensifying the ongoing probe. Health and Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan affirmed that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) would implement a system to test ghee at Pampa before it reaches the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, vowing to ensure that only ghee meeting the required standards is delivered to the shrine.",
  "summary": "In a reply during Question Hour, Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister says all files related to purported scam have been handed over to Vigilance",
  "key_points": [
    "Keralam government to recover ₹75.5 lakh in Sabarimala ghee irregularities.",
    "Thiruvananthapuram TRCMPU supplied ghee at ₹510/litre, below market price ₹720.",
    "Travancore Devaswom Board to test ghee at Pampa before delivery to shrine."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}