Pathanamthitta (Kerala): Prasad E D, the newly chosen melsanthi (chief priest) of the Sabarimala temple, has pledged vigilance as he steps into his sacred role during a time of intense scrutiny over alleged irregularities in the temple's gold plating works.

Prasad, a native of Chalakudy in Thrissur, and Manu Namboothiri M G from Kollam were selected as chief priests for the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples, respectively. The selection was carried out through the traditional draw of lots (devaprasnam) held at the Sannidhanam earlier on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement, Prasad addressed the controversy surrounding the temple, expressing faith in divine justice.

"Lord Ayyappa knows everything about what happened, and he himself will find a solution. The only thing is that we should always be vigilant. We land in trouble when we over-depend on others for anything. We should stand independent," he said.

He also added that he would remain especially cautious in light of the ongoing developments.

"I am very happy. Words fail to express my happiness. I cannot ask for anything more," Prasad said when asked about his selection.

An experienced priest, Prasad has been serving at the Areswaram Dharmasastha Temple for the last three years and is known as a devout follower of Lord Ayyappa.

The announcement of the new melsanthi comes just a day after gold-plated copper sheets from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols were reinstalled at the Sabarimala shrine for the Malayalam month of Thulam.

These plates — 14 in total — had been returned from a Chennai-based facility, Smart Creations, where they underwent electroplating as per Kerala High Court instructions. The reinstallation was conducted under the supervision of temple priests and officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), including its president, P S Prasanth.

The timing, however, coincided with the arrest of businessman Unnikrishnan Potti, who had originally sponsored the plating work back in 2019. Potti was taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the ongoing Sabarimala gold misappropriation case.

The controversy erupted when the TDB sent the plates for re-plating without obtaining mandatory clearance from the High Court. Subsequent examination of records revealed discrepancies in the weight of the gold, leading the court to mandate a preliminary investigation by the TDB's vigilance wing.

Following their report, which pointed to serious irregularities involving both Potti and certain Devaswom officials, the Kerala High Court appointed retired judge Justice K T Sankaran to inventory the temple’s assets. The SIT has since registered two cases and arrested Potti as part of the widening investigation.

PTI