Suspended Badrinath Dham temple committee employee arrested in donation theft case

A suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has been arrested in connection with an alleged donation theft case involving Badrinath Temple, police said on Monday.

The accused, who was earlier placed under suspension by the temple committee, was taken into custody after investigators gathered evidence related to the alleged misappropriation of donation money collected from devotees visiting one of Hinduism's holiest shrines.

Officials said the investigation is continuing and more arrests or departmental action cannot be ruled out if additional evidence emerges.

Probe into missing donation funds

According to police, the case pertains to alleged irregularities in the handling of donations received at the temple. Preliminary inquiries reportedly revealed discrepancies in financial records, prompting the registration of a criminal case and a detailed investigation.

Investigators examined transaction records, donation registers and CCTV footage before making the arrest.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact amount of money allegedly involved, saying the audit and investigation are still in progress.

Temple committee acted earlier

Before the arrest, the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee had suspended the employee after receiving complaints regarding the handling of temple funds.

The committee also initiated an internal inquiry to examine whether established procedures for collecting and depositing donations had been followed.

Officials said they are cooperating fully with the police investigation and have assured devotees that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.

Police continue investigation

Police said the arrested employee will be questioned further to ascertain whether others were involved in the alleged theft.

Investigators are also examining financial records to determine if the incident was isolated or part of a larger pattern of irregularities.

Officials indicated that forensic examination of relevant documents and digital records may also be carried out as part of the probe.

Committee assures transparency

The temple committee has reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency in the management of donations and temple finances.

It said mechanisms are in place to safeguard offerings made by devotees and that any lapse or misconduct would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The committee also appealed to devotees not to be influenced by speculation while the investigation is underway.

What happens next?

The accused is expected to be produced before a local court, where police may seek custodial interrogation to further the investigation.

Meanwhile, the internal inquiry by the temple committee and the criminal investigation will continue in parallel. Authorities have said appropriate legal and disciplinary action will follow based on the findings of the probe.