Kerala’s TDB appoints task force to rectify anomalies in Global Ayyappa Sangamam audit report 

The Travancore Decaswom Board (TDB) appointed a special task force on Tuesday to “rectify the anomalies” that crept into the audit report concerning the expenses incurred for the conduct of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Sabarimala in September 2025. 

TDB president K Jayakumar told reporters that the board had “erred” in not answering the auditor’s queries in entirety, thus inadvertently creating room for scepticism. 

“Some officials had evidently not done their homework. I am not blaming the auditor. He could only work on the basis of the information provided by the TDB, which was found patchy and lacking. There is an evident lack of clarity”, he said. 

Mr Jayakumar said that in some cases, the TDB did not receive bills and invoices from vendors in time, leaving the auditor in the dark. 

He said the TDB could not accept some of the audit reports’ findings. “The TDB cannot accept all claims. The bhajana sangam did not perform at the venue, and breakfast was not served for 4000 attendees”, he said. 

Mr Jayakumar said the previous TDB had “limited” the expense for the Ayyappa Sangamam to ₹4.99 crore. He said the TDB had promised the High Court that it would not tap into its coffers to underwrite the event. “The TDB extended ₹3 crore for the event, which has now been credited back to its account. Adani’s sponsorship amount of ₹1 crore is assured. But some other sponsors did not honour their commitment. There is a ₹1 crore shortage, which will be redeemed”, he said. 

Mr Jayakumar said the TDB’s Devaswom Commissioner, the Chief Accounts Office, and the Chief Engineer would head the task force.

He said the team would match internal records, including assets and purchase orders, with vendor statements, to answer the inconsistencies in accounts flagged by the High Court-appointed Special Commissioner.

The auditor had flagged a violation of bidding rules, including the arbitrary contracting of an event management firm, the Indian Institute of Infrastructure Construction (IIIC), an offshoot of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]-controlled Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society. The examiner also red-flagged the TDB’s decision to impose an additional 10% “administrative charge” above the contract amount on the IIIC. Moreover, the auditor underscored opacity in the TDB’s bid to cover the event’s costs through sponsorships. 

Mr Jayakumar said the TDB hoped to “clear the air” when the High Court hears the matter again on February 17.