Jagran Correspondent, Gopeshwar (Chamoli): The investigation into alleged irregularities in donation at the Badrinath Temple is intensifying, with suspicion now extending to several other employees.

While an embezzlement case has only been registered against Pramod Nautiyal, a personal assistant in the chairman's office, investigators are uncovering new leads that deepen suspicion on several other employees.

The entire matter is being investigated at three distinct levels: an internal inquiry by the temple committee, a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and an administrative inquiry by the Garhwal Commissioner, Jagran.com reported.

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SIT Widens Probe In Badrinath Donation Scam

The SIT on Friday recorded statements from temple committee employees, including staff assigned to cash-counting duty on July 2. The probe, which initially erupted after CCTV footage showed Nautiyal carrying bundles of notes hidden under his mobile phone, has now expanded to uncover additional irregularities, including an alleged VIP 'easy darshan' racket.

However, investigators face a major hurdle: the temple committee revealed that only 45 days of CCTV footage is preserved at the shrine, making the recovery of older Digital Video Recorder (DVR) data highly challenging.

Additionally, the committee has yet to hand over crucial documents requested by the SIT, including the three years of records of the employees involved in counting offerings.

Heavy Rain Disrupts High-Level Visit

SIT in-charge and DSP Madan Bisht stated that temple committee employees are being continuously questioned, adding that the accused personal assistant is also to give a statement, but his mobile phone is currently switched off.

Meanwhile, the high-level investigation committee, led by the Garhwal Commissioner, was unable to reach Badrinath on Friday due to heavy rain, the report added.

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Accused PA Approaches High Court

Pramod Nautiyal has approached the Uttarakhand High Court seeking the suspension and cancellation of the FIR registered against him in the Badrinath Temple offering embezzlement case.

On Friday, a single-judge bench of Justice Alok Kumar Verma asked the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) to clarify its position on the matter. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 16.

(With Inputs From Jagran.com)