Gopeshwar/Dehradun: A day after the Special Investigation Team launched a probe into alleged irregularities regarding the management of offerings, the Badrinath temple committee has removed its treasurer after 'overwriting' was detected in the donations logbook, officials said on Wednesday.
The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sohan Singh Rangad said that Treasurer Sandesh Mehta was transferred to another location after the quantity of silver found in the temple locker exceeded the amount recorded in the register, and 'overwriting' was discovered in the logbook.
He added that the responsibilities of the treasurer's post have been handed over to Kedar Singh -- previously stationed at the temple's puja counter -- while Mehta has been posted in Singh's former role.
Inquiry panel consituted by CM visits temple
Meanwhile, a high-level inquiry panel, constituted on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and headed by Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop, investigating the alleged irregularities, continued its inquiry for the second day on Wednesday, gathering information on the procedures for handling offerings and interacting with BKTC staff.
Temple committee sources indicated that the investigators would also speak with other individuals associated with the temple's administration.
The panel, tasked to investigate alleged irregularities regarding temple donations and offerings and make recommendations to improve temple management, had commenced its investigation upon arriving at the Badrinath Temple on Tuesday.
In addition to Swaroop, the committee includes Sandeep Tiwari, Managing Director of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), and Jagat Singh Chauhan, Director (Finance) of the Medical and Health Department, as members.
After reaching Badrinath, the committee inspected the temple premises, including the CCTV cameras and the cash counting room, and examined the counting register and other relevant documents.
Later, Tiwari said that the committee inspected the donation counting process, the system for transporting donations from the hundi (donation box) to the counting room, the status of CCTV cameras, and the working methods of the deployed staff.
He added that the committee has also taken cognisance of the available CCTV recordings and the arrest of suspended BKTC employee Pramod Nautiyal.
Tiwari said that statements from the general public would be recorded during the detailed investigation, and the committee would seek the opinion of technical experts after obtaining all CCTV footage.
A Special Investigation Team of police is also probing the case.
The Case
The BKTC had constituted a four-member internal inquiry committee after allegations of irregularities in the management of temple offerings surfaced on social media on July 2.
Following a preliminary inquiry that prima facie substantiated the allegations, BKTC suspended employee Pramod Nautiyal on July 7.
The committee subsequently lodged a complaint against Nautiyal at the Badrinath police station, after which an SIT was constituted to investigate the case. Based on evidence collected during the probe, Nautiyal was arrested on the night of July 12.
The controversy came to light after allegations of irregularities in the counting of donations at the Badrinath temple surfaced on social media. Subsequently, an organisation named Bhairav Sena lodged a complaint seeking an inquiry and registration of an FIR in the matter. The case is registered under Section 306 (theft by an employee of property in possession of the employer) and Section 316(5) (criminal breach of trust by a trustee) of the BNS.
After examining the CCTV, the SIT claimed that the accused allegedly stole items, including ₹500 notes, packets of gold and silver coins, a Shaligram Shila (sacred stone), and packets of saffron, at various times.
