Priest Arrested in Sabarimala Temple Ghee Embezzlement Case

Kerala's anti-corruption authorities have arrested a former temple priest for allegedly embezzling over ₹36 lakh from the proceeds of sacred ghee sales at one of India's most significant pilgrimage sites, Sabarimala. The case exposes systemic vulnerabilities in the financial management of religious institutions that receive millions in donations annually.

Background and Context

Sabarimala, home to the Ayyappan temple, attracts millions of devotees annually during the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple, oversees substantial religious offerings, including 'Aadiya Shishtam Neyyu'—ghee remaining after ceremonial offerings. Financial oversight of these offerings has long been a concern, with previous instances of mismanagement reported at various temples under the board's jurisdiction.

Key Figures and Entities

K.R. Sunilkumar Potti, a former priest from Aroor in Alappuzha district, served at the Chaliyekkara Bhadrakali temple under the Punalur group of the TDB before being assigned to oversee ghee sales at Sabarimala during the 2025 pilgrimage season. According to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Potti was entrusted with managing sales and revenue collection but allegedly manipulated records and failed to remit the full proceeds to the board's accounts.

Legal and Financial Mechanisms

The investigation revealed that devaswom employees systematically manipulated stock records to conceal the embezzlement, creating discrepancies between actual ghee packets sold and officially reported revenue. The alleged scheme involved underreporting sales and diverting approximately ₹36,24,400 (approximately $44,000) from the board's accounts. The VACB's Pathanamthitta unit registered a case following an audit that exposed these irregularities, leading to Potti's arrest and scheduled appearance before the Vigilance Court in Kollam.

International Implications and Policy Response

While this case appears localized to Kerala's temple administration, it highlights broader challenges in financial governance of religious institutions worldwide. Similar cases of embezzlement have been documented at religious sites across India, prompting calls for enhanced transparency and digital tracking of offerings. The incident may accelerate reforms already under consideration by the TDB, including implementing real-time inventory management systems and independent auditing mechanisms for high-revenue temple operations.

Sources

This report draws on official statements from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, court filings from the Pathanamthitta Vigilance unit, and public records from the Travancore Devaswom Board regarding temple management procedures during the 2025 Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.