The Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has submitted its 18-page internal enquiry report to the Uttarakhand Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) amid an ongoing row over alleged embezzlement in the management of offerings at the Badrinath temple in Chamoli district, sources confirmed on Thursday, 16 July. The development marks a significant step in a probe that has drawn scrutiny over financial discrepancies and missing donated assets at one of India's most revered shrines.

Key Developments in the SIT Probe

According to official sources familiar with the matter, an internal review of CCTV footage from 22 June and 25 June reportedly identified certain suspicious individuals. The Uttarakhand Police SIT was expected to question these suspects on Thursday as part of its ongoing investigation.

Additionally, the SIT has taken possession of the DVR containing CCTV footage from 29 June and 2 July for further forensic examination. The sequential seizure of surveillance data suggests investigators are building a timeline of alleged irregularities within the temple's inner sanctum.

What the BKTC CEO Said

Sohan Singh Rangad, Chief Executive Officer of the BKTC, addressed the controversy a day prior, confirming that the temple body's treasurer had been transferred — not removed — in light of the sensitive findings.

Rangad said: 'The Treasurer has not been removed; he has been transferred.'

He elaborated on the nature of the discrepancy: 'An investigation team had given us a report regarding certain things that were kept in the double-lock, specifically materials made of silver. There was a discrepancy between that material and the entry in the register — the amount recorded in the register was less, while the actual material found at the site was more. So, it is quite possible that this was a human error, especially because the quantity of the material was larger. Had it been less than what was recorded, I would have said that some of it had been taken out.'

Rangad added that since the silver articles recovered were more than what was logged, 'it may have been overwritten,' suggesting a clerical error rather than theft. Nonetheless, he said the treasurer's transfer was warranted 'keeping in view the sensitive nature of the matter.'

Allegations Over Missing Ambulances and Laptops

The BKTC CEO also pushed back on allegations that donated laptops and an ambulance had gone missing. He clarified that the temple committee holds three ambulances: one was declared surplus and auctioned in 2016 following due process; a second was formally handed over to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Rudraprayag; and the third remains stationed at Ukhimath.

On the laptops, Rangad said: 'The laptops that were received as donations were distributed among the employees. After conducting a probe, we found that those are still with the employees.' The committee maintains no assets are unaccounted for.

Background and What It Means

The Badrinath temple, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and among the most-visited Hindu shrines in India, receives substantial offerings — in cash, gold, silver, and other valuables — from millions of devotees annually. The BKTC, a statutory body under the Uttarakhand government, is responsible for managing these assets. Any allegation of financial irregularity at such an institution carries significant religious, administrative, and political weight.

This is not the first time temple management bodies in Uttarakhand have faced scrutiny over financial accountability. The SIT's investigation, combined with the BKTC's own internal report, will now determine whether the discrepancies were administrative lapses or something more serious. All eyes are on the SIT's next steps as the probe enters a critical phase.