Dehradun: Coining under pressure from all quarters, the Uttarakhand government state's Tourism, Religion, and Culture Minister, Satpal Maharaj, has announced the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the matter. The committee, chaired by the Garhwal commissioner, will consist of technical experts and goldsmiths, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the allegations.
Minister Maharaj emphasized the government's commitment to resolving the issue, stating that they are "extremely sensitive" about the matter and will take appropriate action against anyone found guilty. He clarified that the gold plating had been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Act, 1939, which allowed for donations and required permission from the state government. Furthermore, the gold plating process was supervised by experts from the Archaeological Survey of India.
According to the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, a donor had purchased the gold and had it inlaid on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum, with no direct involvement from the temple committee. After the completion of the work, the donor submitted the bill and relevant documents to the temple committee. The committee clarified that 23,777.800 grams of gold were used, with a current value of approximately Rs 14.38 crore. Additionally, copper plates weighing 1,001.300 kg were used for the gilded work, with a total value of Rs 29 lakh.
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However, the controversy erupted when Teerth Purohit of Kedarnath Temple and Vice President of Chardham Mahapanchayat, Santosh Trivedi, released a video on social media alleging that brass had been used instead of gold, leading to a scam worth around Rs 1.25 billion. The video sparked widespread attention, prompting Minister Maharaj to order the high-level inquiry.
In response to the investigation, the Congress party raised concerns about the impartiality of the inquiry. They suggested that a judicial magistrate should lead the investigation to ensure an unbiased outcome. The Congress also demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and accused the gold of disappearing.
Minister Maharaj's decision to initiate an investigation demonstrates the government's commitment to upholding religious faith and purity. However, the Congress expressed skepticism about the official investigation, citing alleged pressure on the investigators. They questioned the role of Ajendra Ajay, the president of the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, who initially stated that 230 kg of gold had been used but later revised the figure to 23 kg, raising doubts about his involvement.
The Congress State President, Karan Mahara, further suggested that the Income Tax Department should investigate the donor involved in the gold plating, as the matter falls under Section 80G, which provides tax exemptions for donations. Mahara argued that using religious places to manipulate tax obligations is a sensitive issue that warrants scrutiny.
In addition to the concerns surrounding the gold plating, the Congress also raised questions about the composition of the gold itself. They wondered why solid gold was not used if it was available to the temple committee, and why gold was plated with copper.
