Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 12 (IANS) Kerala Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan on Wednesday sought a comprehensive investigation into the alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of ghee at Sabarimala, raising questions over how a blacklisted company managed to secure the contract and hinting at a possible high-level conspiracy.

In a letter to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Muraleedharan said the inquiry conducted by the Devaswom Vigilance SP and the Devaswom Secretary had brought to light shocking irregularities in the ghee deal.

While a special Vigilance team is already probing the matter following a direction from the Kerala High Court, the minister has sought a wider investigation into aspects that have not been covered by the ongoing probe.

The move assumes significance as the ghee supplied for use at Sabarimala is directly linked to the preparation of the temple’s sacred offerings.

Any irregularity in its procurement, quality or distribution therefore carries implications beyond a routine contractual dispute.

According to the minister, the circumstances under which the contract was awarded to a company that had already been blacklisted warrant closer scrutiny.

The decision, he suggested, could not be viewed in isolation and raised the possibility of a larger conspiracy involving those responsible for the procurement process.

Muraleedharan has therefore urged the Home Department to entrust the uncovered aspects of the case to a special investigation team.

The demand comes against the backdrop of the ongoing High Court-monitored Vigilance inquiry, which is examining allegations surrounding the ghee transaction.

The minister has specifically sought to ensure that there is no overlap or interference with the existing Vigilance investigation, while seeking a separate examination of issues that have remained outside its scope.

The demand for a broader probe is likely to put the Sabarimala ghee controversy under renewed political and administrative scrutiny.

It also raises questions over the internal checks followed by the Travancore Devaswom Board in awarding contracts and whether adequate safeguards were in place to prevent a blacklisted firm from entering into a sensitive temple-related procurement arrangement.

With the minister himself flagging the possibility of a high-level conspiracy, the focus is now likely to shift to who approved the contract, how the company was allowed to participate and whether officials ignored or bypassed existing safeguards.

–IANS

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