QR code boards in Badrinath-Kedarnath: Uttarakhand Police forms probe team

Uttarakhand Police has formed a team to probe into appearance of boards bearing QR codes seeking donations from pilgrims outside gates of Brinath and Kedarnath, it said on Thursday.

team -- heed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Chamoli) Natasha Singh -- was constituted by Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal, his office said in a release. team has been asked to coordinate with cyber cell of Uttarakhand Police and uncover case at earliest.

It has also been directed to brief Dobhal's office about investigation on a daily basis.

Brinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee h lodged a complaint at Brinath police station earlier this month and demanded an inquiry into installation of boards asking devotees for donations through QR codes.

Cases under Section 420 of Indian Penal Code were registered against unidentified accused at Brinath police station and Kedarnath police outpost for putting up QR code boards outside temples.

Ajendra Ajay, temple committee chairman, h earlier said boards were removed immediately after those were brought to its notice.

He h also clarified that committee does not use digital payment methods for transactions. However, soon after cases were lodged, digital payments company Paytm issued a clarification saying it h put up boards as part of a contract with temple committee signed in 2018.

While temple committee later mitted that re was a formal agreement with Paytm to put up such boards outside temples, company did not take its permission before putting those up, leing to confusion.