The Crossbill News Desk
The investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Uttarakhand's Kedarnath and Badrinath temples has gathered pace with the arrest of a suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), even as the controversy has intensified political sparring between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress.
According to Chamoli senior superintendent of police Surjit Singh Panwar, the arrested person, identified as Pramod Nautiyal, was held from Dehradun on Sunday (July 12) night and was subsequently taken to Badrinath for questioning, reported The Hindu.
An FIR was filed in the matter on July 8 on the basis of a complaint submitted by Bhairav Sena, a right-wing organisation. Subsequently, a four-member inquiry committee constituted by the BKTC found prima facie merit in allegations of irregularities in the management and counting of temple donations.
In the FIR, the now-arrested Nautiyal has been accused of misappropriation and theft of offerings made by devotees at the temple. Nautiyal was serving as the personal assistant to the BKTC chairman.
The arrest comes amid mounting scrutiny over the functioning of the temple administration. The Congress has accused the BJP government of failing to ensure transparency in the management of the revered shrines.
Uttarakhand Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal has questioned the probe, alleging that attempts were being made to prevent the accused from naming others allegedly linked to the case.
Meanwhile, terming the incident as “unfortunate”, BJP MP and former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has demanded that the guilty must be punished. Rawat also underlined the fact that said the Devasthanam board, constituted during his tenure, would have averted thefts like this.
BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt has described the alleged misappropriation of temple donations a “grave sin” and said no one found guilty would be spared.
The controversy has also revived questions over financial management at the shrines after an earlier inquiry revealed alleged irregularities in expenditure incurred on accommodation and meals for VIP visitors at the Kedarnath temple.
Following the findings, the state government ordered action against the officials and employees found responsible.
Information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed that around Rs 60,000 was recorded as expenditure in the name of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state secretary Neha Joshi, while more than Rs 37,000 was linked to Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal.
The expenses were reportedly incurred on accommodation and meals during their visits to Kedarnath. However, both Joshi and Nautiyal have denied the allegations, maintaining that they had paid for their own expenses.
The latest arrest has added to the political pressure on the Uttarakhand government, with opposition parties demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged financial irregularities and accountability for those found responsible.
The developments also come at a time when the BJP continues to face criticism over allegations of financial misconduct linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
According to Chamoli senior superintendent of police Surjit Singh Panwar, the arrested person, identified as Pramod Nautiyal, was held from Dehradun on Sunday (July 12) night and was subsequently taken to Badrinath for questioning, reported The Hindu.
An FIR was filed in the matter on July 8 on the basis of a complaint submitted by Bhairav Sena, a right-wing organisation. Subsequently, a four-member inquiry committee constituted by the BKTC found prima facie merit in allegations of irregularities in the management and counting of temple donations.
In the FIR, the now-arrested Nautiyal has been accused of misappropriation and theft of offerings made by devotees at the temple. Nautiyal was serving as the personal assistant to the BKTC chairman.
The arrest comes amid mounting scrutiny over the functioning of the temple administration. The Congress has accused the BJP government of failing to ensure transparency in the management of the revered shrines.
Uttarakhand Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal has questioned the probe, alleging that attempts were being made to prevent the accused from naming others allegedly linked to the case.
Meanwhile, terming the incident as “unfortunate”, BJP MP and former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has demanded that the guilty must be punished. Rawat also underlined the fact that said the Devasthanam board, constituted during his tenure, would have averted thefts like this.
BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt has described the alleged misappropriation of temple donations a “grave sin” and said no one found guilty would be spared.
The controversy has also revived questions over financial management at the shrines after an earlier inquiry revealed alleged irregularities in expenditure incurred on accommodation and meals for VIP visitors at the Kedarnath temple.
Following the findings, the state government ordered action against the officials and employees found responsible.
Information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed that around Rs 60,000 was recorded as expenditure in the name of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state secretary Neha Joshi, while more than Rs 37,000 was linked to Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal.
The expenses were reportedly incurred on accommodation and meals during their visits to Kedarnath. However, both Joshi and Nautiyal have denied the allegations, maintaining that they had paid for their own expenses.
The latest arrest has added to the political pressure on the Uttarakhand government, with opposition parties demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged financial irregularities and accountability for those found responsible.
The developments also come at a time when the BJP continues to face criticism over allegations of financial misconduct linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
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