The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has suspended a head clerk in connection with the alleged leak of confidential tender details related to the e-auction of 110 shops at Sabarimala.

The official, identified as Rejimon, was suspended after a preliminary inquiry found that tender details had been leaked to contractors from his mobile phone. The board had introduced the e-tender and e-auction system to ensure greater transparency in the allotment of the shops. The process, however, was cancelled at the last minute following allegations of malpractice.

The preliminary inquiry confirmed that some board officials had photographed confidential bid details on their mobile phones and passed them on to regular contractors after the deadline for submitting tenders had expired. The alleged malpractice came to light after a new contractor who had participated in the tender received a threat message on his phone.

Officials said further action would be taken if the inquiry established the involvement of more people in the leak.

Scrap collection

Meanwhile, the TDB has decided to enter into an agreement with the Clean Kerala Company for the collection of metal scrap from Sabarimala and Pampa. The board also cancelled the auction held recently for removing scrap from the two locations following several complaints regarding the process.

The decision to hand over the scrap to the Clean Kerala Company comes after the government recently issued an order authorising the company to collect metal waste from Sabarimala.