Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Devaswoms Minister K Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that the probe into the alleged irregularities in the supply of Milma ghee to the Sabarimala temple will be handed over to the Crime Branch of the state police.

The minister told reporters that the Devaswom Vigilance SP has been directed to secure all files related to the matter to hand over the same to the Crime Branch.

Muraleedharan said that the investigation was being given to the Crime Branch as adulteration has allegedly taken place in the ghee supplied to the temple.

"The ghee that was purchased was not the one that reached Sannidhanam," he contended.

The move comes a day after the Kerala High Court directed that the matter be investigated by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

The High Court was of the view that the materials collected during the preliminary enquiry by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer prima facie indicated the possibility of a coordinated action involving certain members of the Travancore Devaswom Board and officials in connection with the supply of ghee from Milma.

The court had also opined that prima facie this seems to have resulted in substantial financial loss to the Board and the possible supply of substandard ghee for the preparation of Aravana.

Milma Chairman K S Mani on Monday had denied allegations that the dairy cooperative had any role in the alleged irregularities related to the supply of ghee to the Sabarimala temple.