Last year’s Kedarnath Yatra has suddenly come under the spotlight after an RTI disclosure triggered serious questions over how temple committee funds were allegedly used for VIP guests. What began as a routine information request by Uttarakhand-based RTI activist Vikesh Singh Negi has now snowballed into a political controversy, with allegations that lakhs of rupees were spent on the accommodation, food, and travel of influential visitors during the pilgrimage season.
According to the RTI documents cited by Negi, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) allegedly bore the expenses of several political figures, relatives of leaders, and other guests during the Char Dham Yatra. The details mentioned in the RTI have surprised many devotees and local residents, especially because the funds in question are linked to temple administration and pilgrim services.
Among the names mentioned in the controversy is Neha Joshi, daughter of Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi. The RTI documents reportedly claim that nearly ₹60,000 was spent on her two-day stay during the Kedarnath visit. Another entry allegedly shows that around ₹22,000 was spent during the visit of Pankaj Modi, brother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The RTI disclosure also mentions expenses related to Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, BJP district president Bharat Bhushan Bhatt from Rudraprayag, party workers, and RSS-linked individuals. According to the activist, these expenditures included accommodation arrangements, meals, and other hospitality services provided through temple committee resources.
What has added more fuel to the controversy are allegations regarding helicopter travel. Negi has claimed that helicopter tickets for guests associated with BKTC officials were also paid from temple funds. He alleged that during the previous Char Dham Yatra, several “unauthorised individuals” received VIP-level facilities at the expense of the temple committee.
The issue has now become a matter of public debate across Uttarakhand. Many devotees are asking whether religious institutions funded through donations and pilgrim contributions should be used to provide hospitality for political guests and private visitors. Questions are also being raised over whether proper procedures were followed while approving such expenditures.
Soon after the controversy surfaced, BKTC officials rejected the allegations and maintained that no irregularities had taken place. Several BJP leaders also dismissed the claims and described them as politically motivated attempts to target the government and temple administration.
Despite the denials, the pressure surrounding the issue continued to grow, forcing the temple committee to announce an internal inquiry. BKTC has now formed a committee to investigate the allegations and examine the expenditure records linked to the Yatra season.
The controversy comes at a time when the Char Dham Yatra attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year and temple management remains under constant public scrutiny. Kedarnath, in particular, holds immense religious significance, and any allegation involving misuse of temple resources naturally draws strong reactions from devotees.
Political observers believe the issue may continue to dominate discussions in Uttarakhand in the coming days, especially if more financial details emerge through the investigation. Opposition parties are already demanding transparency and accountability, arguing that temple funds should only be used for pilgrim welfare, infrastructure, and religious management.
For many people, the controversy is not only about money but also about public trust. Devotees who donate to temple institutions expect the funds to be used responsibly and transparently. As the investigation moves forward, all eyes will now be on the findings of the committee and whether the allegations are proven or dismissed.
Until then, the RTI revelations have once again highlighted how sensitive religious institutions become when questions over finances and VIP culture enter the public domain.