The Impressive TimesDehradun/Badrinath, July 13: In a major development in the alleged donation misappropriation case at Badrinath Dham, Uttarakhand Police have arrested suspended Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) employee Pramod Nautiyal. He was taken into custody from his residence in Dehradun late Sunday and later brought to Badrinath for questioning as the investigation gathers pace.
Nautiyal, who served as the personal assistant to the BKTC chairman, came under scrutiny after allegations emerged regarding the handling of offerings received from devotees at the revered Himalayan shrine. A preliminary departmental inquiry conducted by the temple committee reportedly found sufficient grounds to suspend him pending further investigation.
The controversy began after discrepancies were detected during the counting of donations collected at the temple on July 2. Initial findings indicated that certain donations may have been removed from the counting room without following the prescribed procedures, prompting both administrative and criminal investigations.
According to police officials, CCTV footage examined during the probe allegedly captured Nautiyal making repeated visits to the donation counting room before returning to his office. Investigators suspect these movements are linked to the disappearance of cash, gold and silver coins, sacred shaligram stones, and sealed offering envelopes.
Authorities claim the footage also suggests that bundles of currency notes in ₹500 and ₹100 denominations, along with other valuables offered by devotees, may have been improperly handled. Police are continuing to verify the evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.
Apart from the criminal probe, the matter is being examined simultaneously by the local police, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the BKTC’s internal inquiry panel, and a high-level committee constituted by the Uttarakhand government. The three-member government panel, headed by the Garhwal Divisional Commissioner, has been tasked with reviewing the case and submitting recommendations to the state administration.
Meanwhile, Nautiyal has challenged both his suspension and the FIR lodged against him before the Uttarakhand High Court. His petition is scheduled to be heard on July 17.
The case has also triggered political reactions, with opposition parties questioning the management of temple offerings following similar allegations raised in other religious institutions. Investigators, however, have stated that the inquiry is ongoing and that all evidence is being examined before drawing final conclusions.
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