Rajesh Gupta
Jammu, July, 11: Multi Ghotalaa" in Butati Dham, which refers to a major financial scandal uncovered by an administrative inquiry in Nagaur, Rajasthan.
A 13-member committee formed by the District Collector and led by the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate revealed an alleged embezzlement of roughly ₹22.74 crore over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years.
In Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Ghotalaa, the Uttarakhand Government has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) to initiate action against officials and employees found responsible for alleged financial irregularities, following an inquiry into payments made for the accommodation, food and other expenses of VIP guests at the Kedarnath establishment.
In a June 25 letter, Deputy Secretary Anil Kumar Pandey of the Tourism and Religious Affairs Department referred to the inquiry report, which found prima facie evidence that advance funds were released from the temple corpus without approval from the competent authority, amounting to a financial irregularity.
The inquiry report questioned the roles of the then Manager, Kedarnath, the then Chief In-charge Officer, Kedarnath, and the then Chief Executive Officer.
The Government directed the BKTC CEO to take appropriate action against the officials and employees named in the report in accordance with the provisions of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Act, 1939, and the rules framed under it.
The directive comes as multiple financial matters related to the BKTC remain under scrutiny, including the alleged theft of donations at the Badrinath temple.
Separately, the Special Investigation Team recorded statements of five witnesses in connection with the alleged Badrinath Temple donation theft case.
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