The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made significant progress in the investigation into the alleged donation theft at the Badrinath Temple by seizing crucial digital evidence from the shrine's surveillance system. Investigators have taken possession of the Network Video Recorder (NVR) from the temple's CCTV control room, which contains complete surveillance footage from June 22 and June 25. The move is expected to play a key role in uncovering irregularities in the handling of devotees' donations.
SIT officer Mahadev Uniyal said the investigation revealed that some recordings related to previous cash-counting sessions had been deleted or tampered with. To retrieve the missing data, the deleted footage has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for advanced digital recovery. Officials believe the recovered footage could provide critical evidence about the alleged theft and identify those involved.
The SIT has also widened its investigation after identifying several suspicious individuals who may have been connected to the alleged scam. According to investigators, a detailed probe is underway to determine whether more people were involved in the handling or misappropriation of temple donations. The team is examining operational logs, surveillance records and other digital evidence collected from the temple premises.
Earlier this week, a committee constituted by the Uttarakhand government visited Badrinath Dham to inspect the entire donation management process. The committee reviewed how donation boxes are transported, the arrangements inside the counting room, the CCTV monitoring system, the role of staff involved in counting cash and the procedures followed by bank officials during collection and deposit.
Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) Managing Director Sandeep Tiwari, who is part of the inquiry committee, said this was the first comprehensive inspection of the donation handling mechanism. He added that the investigation would continue with statements from complainants, temple officials and members of the public, while forensic and cyber experts would also be consulted if required.
Meanwhile, the SIT has questioned Badrinath Temple Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad and his personal assistant, Atul Dimri, to identify possible lapses in oversight. Authorities are also reviewing the roles of officials responsible for managing daily donations and maintaining surveillance records. The investigation remains ongoing, with forensic recovery of the deleted CCTV footage expected to provide vital clues in one of the most high-profile temple donation probes in recent years.
