SIT arrests second man accused of ‘pocketing Badrinath temple donations’
The Uttarakhand SIT has arrested a second former employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee for allegedly stealing cash and jewelry from donation plates. CCTV evidence was instrumental in linking the accused to the financial irregularities.
Why it matters
The case highlights corruption risks in high-traffic religious institutions and the role of surveillance in public accountability.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged financial irregularities in the handling of thali bhent (plate offerings) and other donated items at the Uttarakhand-based Badrinath temple arrested a second accused on Friday, with investigators citing CCTV footage and other evidence linking him to the case.
According to the Chamoli Police, Rajendra Chauhan, a former employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), who was then supervising the thali bhent counting process, was arrested from Jyotirmath.
The primary FIR was registered based on a complaint by the BKTC president alleging financial irregularities in the counting and handling of cash and other offerings made by devotees at the shrine. Police said an FIR had earlier been registered under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A named accused, Pramod Nautiyal, who was also an employee of BKTC was arrested on July 12 and is currently in judicial custody.
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