Days before Badrinath donation theft allegation, CCTV cameras replaced at temple

The alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at Shri Badrinath Dham has taken a fresh turn after it emerged that CCTV cameras at the shrine were replaced on July 1, days before allegations of irregularities in temple donations surfaced.

The controversy centres on claims that donations and offerings at the temple were allegedly mishandled. A Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) employee is facing serious allegations, while the committee has ordered an inquiry into the matter following claims that gained widespread attention on social media.

Responding to questions over the CCTV replacement, BKTC Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad said the installation of the new cameras was a routine process. He clarified that all 32 CCTV cameras at the temple were replaced after a donor gifted high-resolution surveillance equipment to the shrine.

Rangad said the earlier CCTV recordings remain fully preserved in the DVR system and would be available for the investigation. He added that the inquiry report would establish the complete sequence of events.

He also said BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi had ordered an impartial, fact-based investigation into the allegations, and explanations had been sought from the employees concerned. Strict action would be taken if any employee is found guilty during the probe.

Meanwhile, BKTC has kept Chairman Hemant Dwivedi's private secretary, Pramod Nautiyal, away from temple-related work pending the inquiry.

The probe comes amid heightened scrutiny over the handling of donations at major temples, with the allegations at Badrinath drawing significant public attention due to the shrine's importance for millions of devotees.

- Ends