Kerala High Court Demands Auditor's Report on Global Ayyappa Sangamam Discrepancies Within 10 Days
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Kochi, March 5 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court has raised concerns regarding inconsistencies in the financial records associated with the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. The court has ordered the auditor to present a comprehensive report within the next ten days.
This matter arose during the court's investigation into alleged financial mismanagement tied to the event.
During proceedings, the auditor revealed that irregularities had been found in the financial documents submitted for the program.
In response, the court inquired about the corrective actions that could be taken to rectify these discrepancies and requested a detailed explanation from the auditor regarding the issues and potential remedial measures.
The court had previously examined this case as part of its review of the event's financial accounts.
It also mandated that Vijayan Associates, the firm responsible for compiling the accounts for the Travancore Devaswom Board, be included in the proceedings and appear with all pertinent documentation.
The Bench had previously expressed dissatisfaction over the delays in account submissions, noting that several months had elapsed since the Global Ayyappa Meet concluded, yet the final financial reports had not been adequately presented.
In light of the court's remarks, financial statements prepared by a private chartered accountant were submitted via the Special Commissioner.
However, during the review process, further discrepancies were noted in those records.
In response, the Travancore Devaswom Board established a committee to audit the accounts.
Despite this initiative, the Board has yet to provide a consolidated and verified statement to the court.
This prompted the court to directly review the financial documents.
During the hearing, the State Audit Department indicated that the Devaswom Board had not supplied the financial records it required for verification.
Nonetheless, the Board maintained that all necessary documents were submitted to a private chartered accountant for the account preparation.
The court will revisit this matter following the auditor's submission of the detailed report as instructed.
The Sangamam took place at Sabarimala on September 20, 2025.