Kerala High Court Directs Vigilance Probe Into Suspicious Fund Transfers By Sabarimala Staff During Mandala Season

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (February 11) directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police) of the Travancore Devaswom Board to conduct a detailed probe into suspicious fund transfers by the staff employed at Sabarimala during the 2025-26 Mandala-Makaravilakku season.The Division Bench consisting of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar passed the direction while considering a suo motu petition based on a report filed by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner pertaining to alleged financial malpractices by casual labourers and permanent duty staff.The Court recorded that as per the report, the Executive Officer had received secret information and thereupon, a discreet enquiry was done by the Vigilance Officer who collected financial data from the post offices and banks nearby regarding amounts deposited from November 17 onwards.On enquiry, it was found that around ₹14 lakhs was transferred through the post office and since such high remittances was made within a small window of time, there was suspicion regarding the source and legitimacy of the amounts.As per the information of the Vigilance Wing, two employees had made remittances of more than ₹1 lakh and three others have transferred more than ₹25,000. These persons were directed by the Vigilance Officer to appear for enquiry but they have failed to do so. Thus, it was stated that a detailed enquiry is needed to verify these remittances.The Bench was told that the Devaswom Commissioner has instructed the Executive Officer to lodge a formal complaint at the Sannidhanam Police Station for a proper criminal investigation. It was also submitted that directions have been issued to collect information regarding suspicious transactions.Noting that the allegations were grave and serious, the Court passed the following directions:“a) Accordingly, we direct the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police) of the Travancore Devaswom Board to carry out an exhaustive investigation into all related aspects, including obtaining transactional and remittance details from the State Bank of India, Sannidhanam, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Sannidhanam, Post Offices and other financial institutions operating in and around the area.b) The Vigilance Officer shall, for the aforesaid purpose, endeavour to obtain the database of all employees who were on duty at Sannidhanam during the relevant period, whether temporary, casual, or permanent, so as to facilitate comprehensive scrutiny and to ascertain the full extent of any fraudulent activity or suspicious transfer of funds.”The Court has also asked for a comprehensive report in this regard, to be placed within 3 weeks. The case is posted on March 11.Case No: SSCR No. 7 of 2026Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors.Click to Read/Download Interim Order

Kerala High Court Directs Vigilance Probe Into Suspicious Fund Transfers By Sabarimala Staff During Mandala Season

K. Salma Jennath

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