Kerala HC tells auditors to submit all records related to Global Ayyappa Sangamam

Kochi: High court has decided to directly intervene in the auditing of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, conducted by TDB at Sabarimala in 2025, as its repeated directives to provide a fully audited report have proved futile amid various allegations regarding the conduct of the global conclave.The bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar on Monday suo motu impleaded M/s Vijayan and Associates, Thiruvananthapuram, the independent auditor appointed by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to conduct the audit. HC further directed the firm to place on record all primary and foundational documents forming the basis of the audit, including, but not limited to, bills, vouchers, cash books, ledgers, asset registers, expenditure statements, agreements entered into with vendors, details of final payments effected and any supporting documentation connected with the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, by March 5.Additionally, HC directed TDB to provide the complete account statement of the bank account opened with Dhanlaxmi Bank in the name of the devaswom accounts officer for the Global Conclave, for the period from Aug 8, 2025, to Feb 2, 2026. The bench adjourned the matter to March 5.During the previous hearing, the court had sought an explanation from TDB and state audit department regarding irregularities in the audited accounts of the Sangamam held on the banks of Pamba River on Sept 20, 2025. However, TDB filed an interlocutory application (IA) seeking a further three weeks to furnish the explanation. While considering the IA, the court denied the request for additional time and observed that, even for the conduct of a one-day event, it had granted more than three months to the TDB to place the financial statements on record. It further noted that if the board is unable to furnish credible and verifiable data regarding the funds expended and the specific purposes for which such expenditure was incurred, it would lead to the unsettling conclusion that the financial discipline of TDB and its officers is below par.HC also noted that TDB had engaged an independent auditor, and that the audit firm had submitted a report based on the receipts and payments account — both on a cash basis and on a cash-and-credit basis — for the period from Aug 8, 2025, to Feb 2, 2026. If incorrect or inflated payment particulars, or receipts lacking authenticity, had been furnished for audit, that in itself would be a matter of grave concern, HC observed. It further noted that, despite repeated requests from the Kerala state audit department, the accounts had not been furnished to date.Accordingly, HC decided to intervene in the matter.