Gopeshwar: Police on Friday arrested a retired official of the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving the management of offerings and donations at the Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand.
Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar said Rajendra Chauhan, a former counting officer with the BKTC, was arrested as a co-accused in the case. Chauhan had retired from service just a few days ago.
According to the SP, Chauhan's alleged involvement came to light through electronic, documentary and oral evidence collected by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the case.
He was taken into custody from Jyotirmath and brought to Badrinath for further interrogation, Panwar said.
This is the second arrest in the case. Earlier, suspended BKTC employee Pramod Nautiyal, who served as a personal assistant in the committee president's office, was arrested in connection with the alleged scam.
Police said the SIT analysed CCTV footage from the Thali Bhet counting room along with witness statements. The investigation allegedly revealed that Chauhan, in connivance with Nautiyal, siphoned off a portion of the cash offerings and donated valuables during the counting process.
According to the police, CCTV footage from June 22, 25 and 29 allegedly shows Chauhan placing bundles of ₹500 notes, jewellery and other donated items into his pockets on multiple occasions.
The alleged irregularities came to light after posts on social media on July 2 accused BKTC officials of misappropriating temple offerings and donations.
Following the allegations, the BKTC constituted a four-member inquiry committee. Based on its preliminary findings, Nautiyal was suspended and an FIR was registered.
The police subsequently formed an SIT, which arrested Nautiyal on July 12 after gathering evidence.
Separately, BKTC treasurer Sandesh Mehta was recently removed from his role and transferred after investigators reportedly found overwriting in the register used to record temple offerings.