Paytm row: Amid an enormous controversy erupted over Paytm QR codes put in outside the gates of Kedarnath and Badrinath searching for donations from pilgrims, the corporate issued a clarification on Tuesday, saying it was a part of a contract with Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).
According to BKTC media in-charge Harish Gaud, there was a proper settlement between the BKTC and Paytm in 2018 for placing up such boards outside the gates of the temples to get donations from pilgrims.
“Ever since then, small boards with Quick Response (QR) codes have been put up outside these temples by Paytm. Rs 67 lakh have been received by the BKTC through these QR codes by way of donations,” he stated.
Paytm didn’t take prior-permission
However, Paytm didn’t take permission from the competent BKTC authorities earlier than placing up such boards which led to the confusion, he claimed. Paytm has apologised for its mistake to BKTC Chairman Ajendra Ajay, he stated.
Boards displaying QR codes searching for donations from pilgrims have been put up outside the gates of Badrinath and Kedarnath with out the data of the authorities, officers stated on Tuesday.
Cases below Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code have been registered in opposition to unidentified accused on Monday at Badrinath police station and Kedarnath police outpost for placing up the QR code boards outside the temples and a probe was ordered into it, Superintendent of Police (Chamoli) Pramendra Dobhal stated.
Case registered in opposition to Paytm
Ajendra Ajay, chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, stated the instances have been registered on the premise of its grievance.
The boards have been eliminated on April 25 and 27, the day Kedarnath and Badrinath, respectively, opened to the devotees, he stated. The QR codes have been put up with out the committee’s permission and have been eliminated instantly after it was delivered to its discover on the day the temples opened.
The temple committee doesn’t use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) mode for monetary transactions, Ajay stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
Also Read: ​Paytm UPI Lite crosses 4 mn customers with 10 mn transactions at the moment
