A political controversy has intensified over alleged irregularities in the counting of offerings at the Badrinath Temple, with Badrinath MLA Lakhpat Butola beginning an indefinite fast inside the temple premises on today (Tuesday). Accompanied by supporters and Congress workers, the legislator demanded a fair and high-level investigation into the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ donations. The protest follows the Congress party’s announcement of the agitation a day earlier.
During the demonstration, Congress workers staged a peaceful protest, alleging that the handling of temple offerings lacked transparency. Butola urged the authorities to conduct an impartial probe and take strict action against anyone found guilty of financial irregularities.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the alleged manipulation of temple offerings has expanded significantly. Officials are now examining 40 days of CCTV footage to determine whether the incident reported on July 2 was an isolated case or part of a recurring pattern. Investigators are also trying to establish whether the accused official acted alone or had assistance from others during the counting process.
The counting of donations and offerings at the temple is carried out by a committee constituted by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. The accused official was a member of this year’s counting team, prompting investigators to widen the scope of the inquiry beyond a single day’s proceedings. According to officials, all available CCTV footage from the donation counting area has been preserved and is being examined in detail for any signs of previous irregularities.
Chief Executive Officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, Sohan Singh Rangad, said every recording from the past 40 days would be scrutinized. If evidence of financial misconduct is found on any other occasion, appropriate legal and departmental action will be initiated against those responsible.
The case has also raised questions over the accused official’s appointment and responsibilities. Initially appointed as an Internet Coordinator in 2003, the official was regularised in 2014 and later served as the personal secretary to the committee chairman. In 2026, he was posted to Badrinath for the first time and assigned key responsibilities, including supervising the counting of temple offerings and managing VIP protocol arrangements. Investigators are examining whether these responsibilities provided an opportunity for the alleged irregularities.
Further concerns have emerged over administrative arrangements, as the nodal officer and sub-nodal officer responsible for overseeing the counting process retired on June 30. No replacement officials were appointed before the July 2 counting exercise, resulting in the accused official playing a central role during the process. Authorities are now reviewing whether this administrative gap contributed to the alleged misconduct.
