Security Guard Arrested in Financial Irregularities at Badrinath Temple

In a significant development, a security guard has been arrested in connection with alleged financial irregularities at the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand. This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into the misuse of donations, with previous arrests already made. The suspect, identified as Manoj Kumar, reportedly confessed to stealing items from the temple's offerings and selling them. The case has raised concerns about financial transparency at the revered site, prompting the formation of a Special Investigation Team to delve deeper into the matter. Read on to learn more about the details of this unfolding scandal.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 8, 2026, 03:05 IST

Arrest in Badrinath Temple Case

Gopeshwar, August 7: In a case involving alleged financial irregularities related to donations at the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, police apprehended a security guard from a private hydropower project located in Jyotirmath (Joshimath) on Friday. Authorities confirmed this development.

This marks the third arrest in connection with the case that emerged last month. According to information from the Chamoli Superintendent of Police's office, CCTV footage from June 25 and 29 at the temple's donation site clearly shows an individual repeatedly taking items from the donated offerings and placing them in his pocket. The suspect has been identified as Manoj Kumar, a resident of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, who was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Chamoli police.

Manoj Kumar was employed as a security guard at the Lamgad hydropower project operated by Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited in Jyotirmath. He was frequently assigned to the Badrinath Temple to oversee VIP visits for project officials, their relatives, and guests. On July 8, a complaint regarding alleged financial misconduct in donations was filed by Yudhveer Pushpavan, an official from the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), leading to the registration of a case. In light of the devotees' faith and the need for financial transparency at the temple, Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Pawar established an SIT to investigate the matter.

The SIT had previously arrested suspended BKTC employee Pramod Nautiyal and retired employee Rajendra Chauhan in this case. Police reported that during interrogation, Manoj Kumar confessed to his crime, revealing that some of the stolen items were stored in his room at Lamgad, while he had sold others to travelers.

Additionally, police discovered photos of the allegedly stolen items in the 'Recycle Bin' of the suspect's mobile phone during the investigation. During questioning, the accused admitted to arranging the stolen goods on a sheet in his room for photographs, which he later deleted.