Uttarakhand government has formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations and to recommend the introduction of measures to bring transparency to temple management.
The move comes as devotees are being increasingly frustrated about how the collection of their money is organized and their social media posts have been calling for an investigation on the counting of donations at Badrinath Dham.
Three-Member Committee to Submit Report in 15 Days
According to an order issued by Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, the inquiry committee will be headed by Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop.
The other members are National Health Mission Managing Director Sandeep Tiwari and Jagat Singh Chauhan, Director (Finance) in the office of the Director General, Medical and Health Services.
The committee will conduct a full investigation into allegations of donations and offerings at the temple. It has to report its findings and recommendations to the state government within 15 days.
Officials said the panel has also been authorised to seek assistance from government officials, subject experts and other persons if needed during the course of the investigation.
The allegations will be reviewed but the committee will recommend changes to make donation management systems more transparent, accountable and efficient.
BKTC Staff Member Suspended, FIR Registered
The government inquiry comes a day after the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) suspended one of its employees after preliminary findings of alleged irregularities.
Pramod Nautiyal, who was a private secretary in the temple committee, was suspended after the internal inquiry found prima facie evidence of serious lapses in the discharge of his official duties.
Nautiyal was given a show cause notice on July 3. After his explanation and the preliminary report by a four-member internal inquiry committee, the BKTC concluded that allowing him to continue in office could potentially influence or hamper the ongoing investigation.
Following suspension, an FIR was also registered against him.
During the suspension period, Nautiyal will receive a subsistence allowance as per service rules. He has been assigned to the BKTC office in Joshimath, Chamoli district, and has been asked not to leave the headquarters without prior approval and as a whole, to help the inquiry.
Social Media Allegations Triggered Investigation
The controversy was first noted after accusations on the counting of offerings at Badrinath Temple were brought to light on social media.
Then the organisation Bhairav Sena filed a formal complaint and asked for a full investigation and registration of an FIR.
As a result, the BKTC set up a four-member committee last week to investigate the allegations. It has studied CCTV footage, statements of employees and other records in detail as part of its investigation.
Questions were also raised about the replacement of CCTV cameras at the temple. But BKTC officials said that the replacement was part of routine maintenance and said all footage and records from the previous digital video recorders (DVRs) have been safely preserved for investigative purposes.
With the state government’s high-level committee and BKTC’s internal inquiry already in session, authorities are expected to determine if any irregularities occurred and recommend steps to tighten scrutiny of donations and offerings at one of India’s most prominent pilgrimage centres.
