Badrinath Dham funds misappropriation case: SIT questions top officials

Badrinath Dham funds misappropriation case: SIT questions top officials

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of funds at Badrinath Dham has intensified its investigation.

The SIT, headed by Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop, is focusing on top administrative officials, according to ANI.

The team has questioned Temple Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad and his Personal Assistant Atul Dimri over possible lapses in oversight.

Nautiyal's arrest sparks probe into temple donations

The SIT is also examining CCTV footage from the temple's control room to track daily donations.

The investigation has already led to the arrest of Pramod Nautiyal, an Offering and Donation Officer at Badrinath Dham.

Nautiyal was arrested from Dehradun and later brought to Badrinath for further questioning.

He faces serious allegations of misappropriating offerings made by devotees at the temple.

Insiders under scrutiny in temple offerings case

However, the SIT's investigation has now expanded beyond Nautiyal.

While reviewing CCTV footage from June 25, investigators found other Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) employees acting suspiciously in the currency-counting room.

These employees are now under active scrutiny as part of a possible insider network involved in the misappropriation of funds.

Political blame game erupts over Badrinath Dham donations row

The investigation has also sparked a political controversy with Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal and BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi trading allegations.

Dwivedi accused Godiyal of politicizing the issue, while Godiyal accepted the challenge and said he was prepared to publicly answer every allegation made against him.

The matter was first raised by Bhairav Sena founder Sandeep Khatri, who alleged mismanagement of donations at the temple.