Badrinath Temple Theft Case: SIT Arrests Former Temple Officer Rajendra Chauhan
In a major development in the ongoing investigation into the Badrinath Temple donation theft scam, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday arrested Rajendra Singh Chauhan, the former temple officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).
In a major development in the ongoing investigation into the Badrinath Temple donation theft scam, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday arrested Rajendra Singh Chauhan, the former temple officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). The arrest came after Chauhan underwent four hours of intensive questioning by investigators. He is scheduled to be produced in court tomorrow, July 18.
Chauhan, who retired from his post on June 30, became a primary focus of the investigation after SIT officials scrutinized security camera footage from the temple premises. According to police sources, the CCTV footage from June 22, June 25, and June 29 allegedly captured Chauhan collecting cash bundles from the donation counting area and placing them in his pockets. Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Trust Orders Probe After Donation Theft Allegations Surface.
The SIT had recently received an 18-page internal inquiry report prepared by the BKTC, which flagged severe lapses and structural vulnerabilities in how daily offerings were managed.
The probe into the alleged theft has intensified over the past week. The SIT recently seized the temple’s Network Video Recorder (NVR) to retrieve previous cash-counting footage, some of which investigators suspect may have been deleted or tampered with. Deleted files have been forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for recovery.
The donation controversy came to light after public complaints and social media allegations sparked concerns about financial oversight at the Himalayan shrine. Prior to Chauhan’s arrest, the BKTC had suspended Pramod Nautiyal, the private secretary to the BKTC chairman, following initial reports of financial irregularities. Badrinath Temple Donation Theft: SIT Receives BKTC Inquiry Report, Identifies More Suspects from CCTV.
Badrinath Temple Officer Rajendra Chauhan Arrested by SIT in Donation Theft Case
SIT officials have also questioned senior administrative figures, including Temple Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad and his personal assistant, Atul Dimri, to identify gaps in administrative supervision. Authorities indicate that more individuals may be questioned in the coming days as forensic data is analyzed.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2026 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).