Temple donation irregularities claims reach Badrinath Dham

The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committeze (BKTC) has set up a four-member panel to investigate allegations of irregularities in the handling of offerings and donations at the Badrinath temple circulating on social media. The issue has led to political controversy in Uttarakhand, following recent allegations of irregularities in offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

BKTC Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad said the BKTC took note of the allegations circulating on social media on July 2. He said CCTV footage from the temple premises had been reviewed, but the available footage was not entirely clear. Rangad said on Sunday that Chairman Hemant Dwivedi constituted the inquiry panel and directed it to examine all available evidence before submitting its report within seven days.

Rangad said the BKTC chairman was informed immediately because of the seriousness of the matter, and that explanations were requested from the employees involved. Earlier on Friday, BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi clarified that an employee being portrayed on social media as his private secretary was, in fact, a regular Government employee of the temple committee, not his private secretary.

Dwivedi had also said that strict action would be taken if the allegations were found to be true during the inquiry.

State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal called the allegations at Badrinath Dham serious, criticised the State Government led by Pushkar Singh Dhami, and demanded strict action against those responsible. Godiyal said the allegations of corruption at the Ram Temple and now at Badrinath Dham had hurt followers of the Sanatan faith. He urged the State Government to take strict action against those responsible.

On Saturday, Godiyal and Congress workers held a silent protest at the Bagnath Temple complex in Bageshwar against the alleged irregularities in the Ram Temple and the Badrinath Temple.

Rangad appealed to devotees and the public not to share unverified or misleading information until the inquiry is complete, stating that the matter concerns one of the country’s holiest pilgrimage sites and the faith of millions.