Paytm cleaning on QR code outside Kedarnath-Badrinath Dham: Contract was done 5 years ago; Boards were put up without informing the temple committee

The doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened on 25 April and the doors of Badrinath were opened on 27 April.

Paytm on Tuesday clarified to the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), saying that it has put up display boards with QR codes outside the main gates of Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. The company said that it is seeking donations from pilgrims visiting Chardham Yatra under a contract signed with BKTC in 2018.

The company has posted this information from the Paytm Newsroom Twitter handle. On the other hand, BKTC spokesperson Harish Gaur has also accepted that there was a formal agreement between BKTC and Paytm in 2018. Earlier, the temple committee had refused to install any such board.

The temple committee had filed a complaint against unknown people
After getting information about the QR code installed in Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham premises, the temple committee had complained to the police. Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar had told that these scanners were installed on the day of opening of doors of Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham. On the basis of the Tahrir of the temple committee, a case was registered against unknown people.

Due to snowfall in Uttarakhand, the Char Dham Yatra has been stopped for the time being.

Paytm apologizes, has received a donation of Rs 67 lakh so far
According to BKTC spokesperson, small boards with QR codes have been installed outside these temples by Paytm only since the contract. BKTC has received around 67 lakh rupees as donation through Paytm.

However, Paytm had not taken permission from the temple committee officials before putting up such boards, leading to confusion. Paytm has apologized to BKTC Chairman Ajendra Ajay for its mistake.

What has happened so far in this case?
Superintendent of Police Chamoli Pramendra Doval on Monday registered a case under IPC 420 at Badrinath Police Station and Kedarnath Police Station against unknown accused on the complaint of cheating from Paytm. Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee chairman Ajendra Ajay said the boards were removed on April 25 and 27. Ajay said that the temple committee does not use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) mode for financial transactions.

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