The Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Milma) on Monday denied any lapses on Milma’s part in the supply of ghee to the Sabarimala temple. Milma chairman K.S. Mani said the ghee was supplied after stringent quality checks.

“Genuine, premium-quality ghee was dispatched from Milma to Sabarimala, packed in sealed 15 kg tins, making in-transit alteration or tampering impossible,” Mr. Mani said. The sealed consignments were received at the TDB godown by TDB officials. Thereafter, the handling and use of the ghee was outside Milma’s control, according to him.

The allegations pertain to ghee supplied by Milma’s Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (TRCMPU) from its Pathanamthitta dairy.

Mr. Mani welcomed the investigation into the allegations stating that if indeed Milma ghee was replaced with substandard product after delivery, it would amount to a serious offence. “Milma has not received any official communication from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) regarding complaints about the quality of the ghee supplied to Sabarimala. Milma has also received full payment for the supplies,” Mr. Mani said.

Following the allegations, the managing director of the Milma federation had sought explanations from the TRCMPU managing director on two occasions, but no reply has been received to date, he said.

Mr. Mani further added that the TDB has not stated anywhere that it will cease to take Milma ghee. The TDB’s decision is that it would cease outside procurement of ghee since the ghee donated by devotees are sufficient to meet the requirements at Sabarimala.

Milma’s TRCMPU has been in the news after its director board was dissolved recently by the Dairy Development Board citing “serious financial irregularities.”