Chamoli (Uttarakhand), July 15: The investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the Badrinath Temple has gained momentum, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) seizing crucial CCTV footage from the temple premises.

SIT officer Mahadev Uniyal said the team has taken possession of the Network Video Recorder (NVR) from the temple's CCTV control room, which contains surveillance footage from June 22 and June 25. The footage is expected to play a key role in uncovering irregularities in the handling of temple donations.

Uniyal also revealed that some CCTV recordings related to previous cash-counting sessions had been deleted. The deleted data will be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for recovery and further examination.

The SIT has also identified several suspicious individuals, and a detailed investigation is underway to determine their possible involvement in the alleged scam.

Earlier, on July 14, a high-level committee constituted to investigate the donation theft visited Badrinath Dham to inspect the entire donation management process. The team reviewed the transportation of donation boxes, security arrangements in the counting room, CCTV surveillance, deployment of staff during cash counting, and the role of bank officials.

Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) Managing Director Sandeep Tiwari said the committee also examined past CCTV footage and gathered details related to the accused who have already been arrested.

He added that the inquiry will continue with the recording of statements from the complainant and other stakeholders. The committee will also invite information from the public and seek assistance from forensic experts and the cyber cell, if required, to ensure a comprehensive investigation.