Investigation finds irregularity in payment of bills of VIPs visiting Kedarnath
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Amid the ongoing row on the allegations of theft of offerings at Badrinath Dham and questions on the role of Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), an investigation by the State administration has prima facie found financial irregularity in the case of expenditure of BKTC funds on some prominent personalities which were treated as ‘VIP’ guests in Kedarnath. In its inquiry report, the State administration has directed the BKTC to take action on its three officers for releasing advance sum from the BKTC accounts without necessary approvals under relevant sections of the BKTC Act- 1939.
In a confidential letter dated June 25, 2026, the deputy secretary, Tourism and Religious Affairs Anil Kumar Pandey mentions that the report on the investigation on expenditure of BKTC funds to pay boarding and lodging bills of some VIPs during their Kedarnath visit. The report finds the role of the then chief executive officer (CEO) BKTC, then chief in-charge Kedarnath and the then administrator, Kedarnath suspicious. Interestingly, while the report of administration finds financial irregularity, the ‘VIP’ guests under question had publicly denounced the allegation that temple committee funds were used to pay their hotel and food bills.
It is worth mentioning here that RTI activist Vikesh Negi had raised the issue in May 2026. Based on the documents received under RTI, Negi had alleged that BKTC had paid the boarding and lodging expenses of some guests including Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal and BJP leader Neha Joshi. In response to these allegations, both Nautiyal and Joshi (who is the daughter of cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi) had denied that BKTC funds were used to pay bills of their stay and food. They had claimed that they themselves had made all the payments. Both Nautiyal and Joshi had also demanded an investigation in the case.
