Pathanamthitta (Kerala), Oct 24 – P S Prasanth, the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), expressed complete satisfaction with the ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the gold loss from the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala. He expressed hope for the recovery of the missing gold and the punishment of those responsible.

During an interview with a TV channel, Prasanth stated that the SIT’s probe is progressing effectively, and the TDB has full confidence in their efforts. He revealed that the recently arrested former administrative officer, B Murari Babu, had intended to hand over the gold-plated copper claddings of the Dwarapalaka idols to businessman Unnikrishnan Potty for gold-plating.

Prasanth clarified that the Board has not issued any orders that would benefit either Babu or Potty. He explained that Babu sought to transfer the claddings to Potty because the businessman had previously provided a warranty for similar work done in 2019. Babu claimed that the Board would incur significant financial losses if the gold-plating was done by another party, leading to a request for the thanthri’s permission. The thanthri permitted the removal of the idols’ claddings for electroplating in Chennai, but not the door frames or other claddings.

Prasanth criticized the media and the Congress-led opposition for holding the current Board accountable for actions taken in 2019. He also dismissed allegations of accumulating disproportionate wealth, asserting that his assets amount to only a few lakhs. He challenged the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, to disclose his own assets in light of calls for the dissolution of the current Board.

Babu, who was suspended by the TDB amid the gold missing controversy, was arrested by the SIT on Thursday and has been remanded to judicial custody. He faces accusations in two cases related to the disappearance of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols’ gold-clad plates and the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.

In 2019, Babu had forwarded a proposal from Potty to the TDB regarding the electroplating of the Dwarapalaka idols, asserting that the gold-cladded plates were made of copper. He reportedly submitted a similar proposal from Potty again in 2025. At the time of his suspension, Babu was serving as the Deputy Devaswom Commissioner in Haripad. The SIT, operating under the direction of the Kerala High Court, has already arrested Potty in connection with the case. The loss of gold came to light when the High Court initiated a plea regarding the removal of the Dwarapalaka idols’ claddings for gold-plating without prior notification to the court.