Vigilance probe finds massive corruption in utensil procurement at Sabarimala

An Inquiry Commission report says that corruption to the tune of Rs 1.81 crore was perpetrated while buying utensils for Sabarimala temple. It also claimed that V S Jayakumar, brother of former Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, was involved in seven of the eight serious charges of corruption investigated.

Thiruvananthapuram:A vigilance commission probing the corruption allegations about V S Jayakumar, former Devaswom Board Secretary, has revealed that Jayakumar was involved in seven of the eight serious charges of corruption investigated, including massive swindling in the procurement of utensils at Sabarimala Temple.

A misappropriation amounting to Rs 1.81 crore is carried out by V S Jayakumar, who is also the brother of former Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, during the two-year tenure from 2013 to 2015 when he was the Executive Officer, Sabarimala.

The Commission chaired by Former Vigilance Tribunal Cherunniyoor P Sasidharan has found that fake bills were presented to swindle money in the name of purchasing new utensils for Sabarimala Temple.

The Commission report cites that through this misappropriation, Jayakumar has made pecuniary benefits and has incurred a huge loss to the Board.

The Commission also found that the files related to the purchase of utensils were destroyed and were not presented for audit. Funds were released to contractors without following the procedures in place, the report said.

Besides, the report also points out Jayakumar had secured the position of the Devaswom Board Commissioner illegally.

Eight charges against Jayakumar while he served as the Travancore Devaswom Board Secretary and as the Sabarimala Executive officer were probed by the Sasidharan Commission.

The commission has investigated and concluded that seven serious charges against him of the total eight were found to be true.

Jayakumar had been already suspended by the Devaswom Board following serious corruption allegations.