Chamoli. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case of alleged theft and financial irregularities related to offerings and donations in the Badrinath temple, took a major action on Friday and arrested former temple official Rajendra Chauhan. Rajendra Chauhan retired on 30 June 2026. According to SIT sources, Rajendra Chauhan was intensively interrogated for about four hours in Badrinath. Based on interrogation and available evidence, he was formally arrested at 2:59 pm on Friday.
Rajendra Chauhan seen stealing offerings in CCTV
Sources related to the investigation claim that in the CCTV footage received by the SIT, Rajendra Chauhan is seen allegedly withdrawing cash from the counting room of the temple on June 22, 25 and 29. On the basis of this evidence the team took arrest action.
The role of other people in the theft of offerings is being investigated.
The SIT is now also investigating whether any other person had a role in the alleged irregularities and what level of responsibility lies in the entire incident. Even before this, on the basis of departmental inquiry in the same matter, the cashier in-charge has been removed from the post and many employees have been interrogated. According to SIT officials, the arrested former temple official Rajendra Chauhan will be produced in the competent court on Saturday, where further legal process will be completed.
Investigation committee submitted report
An inquiry committee formed by the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) to probe the alleged theft of offerings at the Badrinath temple, submitted its report on Thursday. BKTC Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad confirmed that the four-member team has submitted its 18-page investigation report, which has made several suggestions to prevent theft of temple offerings. These suggestions include enforcing dress code during counting, installing new CCTV cameras in uncovered areas and counting centres, making the monitoring system more robust and accountable and creating a process to involve devotees in the counting process. BKTC had formed this committee when allegations of embezzlement of temple offerings surfaced on social media on July 2.
Based on the preliminary report of the committee, Pramod Nautiyal, posted as Personal Assistant in the office of BKTC Chairman, was suspended. Subsequently, a case was registered against Nautiyal and he was arrested on 13 July.
Employee Pradeep has already been arrested
before recently Employee Pramod Nautiyal was arrested by the police in the Badrinath Dham offering theft case.. Pramod Nautiyal was absconding after the case was registered. Let us tell you that Badrinath Dham is the center of faith of crores of devotees in the country and abroad. In such a situation, the eyes of the entire state are fixed on the investigation of this much-discussed case and the devotees hope that strict action will be taken against the culprits through a fair and transparent investigation.
Input- Inder Singh Bisht, Chamoli
Also read: Big revelation in the FIR regarding financial irregularities in Badrinath Dham! Know how the irregularities came to light and why Pramod Nautiyal was accused?
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
