Sun Oct 05 10:41:27 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text, suitable for publication by “The Hindu”:

**The Hindu: Kerala Government Faces Scrutiny Over Temple Fund Usage**

**Thiruvananthapuram, October 5, 2025:** The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala is bracing for a stormy legislative assembly session as allegations of financial impropriety surrounding the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and Sabarimala temple continue to mount.

Opposition parties are accusing the government of illegally diverting TDB surplus funds to organize the Global Ayyappa Sangamam in Pampa last September. Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan claims the government misled the High Court to secure permission for the event, falsely stating that TDB funds wouldn’t be used. He further alleges that private contractors with government ties benefitted from the diversion.

CPI(M) leader K. Anil Kumar defended the government, stating that the TDB informed the court they would remit the funds to the board’s treasury, contingent upon payments from sponsors. He dismissed allegations of illegality.

Adding fuel to the fire is a controversy surrounding alleged “misuse and theft of temple offerings at Sabarimala.” The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, through its general secretary Vellapally Natesan, accused a corrupt cabal of officials and pilferers of exploiting the faith of Ayyappa devotees for financial gain.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has announced protests demanding a High Court-monitored CBI probe into what they are calling the “Sabarimala temple theft scam,” expressing distrust in a state-level investigation. The BJP plans to stage a siege of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence, also demanding a CBI probe.

The controversies threaten to overshadow the legislative session and highlight potential fault lines between the government and influential Hindu social organizations, despite recent promises to protect Sabarimala traditions.

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