Days after Ayodhya row, donation theft alleged at Badrinath temple

The Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand is facing an allegation of theft of donations, with the Badri Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) ordering an inquiry after a local social organisation made the complaint.
Just days after allegations of theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple came to light and a day after BKTC instructed its employees to beef up security and transparency in the handling of offerings at 49 temples in the Garhwal region, the issue of alleged theft at Badrinath now surfaces.
In a complaint to the BKTC chief executive officer, Sohan Singh Rangar, on Friday, Bhairav Sena Sangathan accused a BKTC staffer, which it described as the "personal secretary" of the committee chairman, of siphoning off donations.

Founding member of the organisation, Sandeep Khatri, alleged that BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi had been informed about these "irregularities earlier."


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Khatri said CCTV footage from the temple should be checked to ascertain the allegations. Dwivedi, acting on the complaint, ordered an inquiry into the matter. However, he clarified that the employee being mentioned on social media is not his personal secretary.

“The concerned employee is a regular employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and has earlier worked as a personal assistant to three chairpersons of the committee. If the allegations being circulated on social media are found to be true, strict action will be taken as per rules,” Dwivedi said.

Rangar said on Friday that CCTV footage of Badrinath temple premises was viewed following the complaint. “The available footage does not have the expected clarity. However, given the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, the chairman has been informed and clarification is being sought from the employees concerned,” he said

The BKTC CEO said a probe committee would be formed to conduct a detailed inquiry based on available evidence and statements of all the involved. “If any irregularity comes to light during the inquiry, legal and departmental action will be taken under the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Act, 1939, and the applicable service rules,” Rangar said. Badrinath and Kedarnath temples have received donations worth nearly ₹70 crore during the current Char Dham Yatra, and revenue from guest houses, he informed, adding that annual donations can range between ₹50 crore and ₹80 crore.

“On average, annual donations range between Rs 50 crore and Rs 80 crore. The amount depends on pilgrim turnout, weather conditions and natural disasters,” he added.

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Elaborating on the donation-counting process, he stated that donations collected at the two shrines are counted by four to five BKTC employees in the presence of bank officials. “Devotees who wish to volunteer in the counting process are also allowed to participate after verification of their identity documents. Once the counting is completed, the donations are handed over to bank employees, who count them again,” he said.

(With inputs from TOI)