Suspended BKTC staffer arrested in Badrinath donation theft
On Sunday night, Uttarakhand Police arrested Pramod Nautiyal, a suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), on suspicion of irregularities in the handling of donations at the Badrinath shrine.
Nautiyal, who worked as a personal assistant to the BKTC Chairman, was taken from his home in Dehradun by Chamoli police and brought to Badrinath for questioning. He is now being questioned at the Badrinath police station, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (Chamoli) Surjit Singh Panwar.
Panwar told reporters, “He was arrested on Sunday night and brought to Badrinath. We are questioning him in connection with the donation irregularities case.” This follows an FIR registered at the Badrinath police station earlier this month.
The complaint, filed by BKTC in-charge Temple Officer Yudhvir Pushpwan (also referred to as Farswan in some reports), alleged misappropriation and theft of devotees’ offerings.
A preliminary internal inquiry by the BKTC had earlier found prima facie evidence of irregularities during the counting of cash offerings at the temple around July 2. Nautiyal was suspended following the inquiry.
CCTV footage from the offering and counting area reportedly shows Nautiyal hiding cash notes, packets of gold and silver coins, Shaligram shilas, and kesar packets. When police searched his home in Dehradun, they found a Shaligram stone and a laptop. No large amount of cash has been found yet. Investigators are now seeking a police remand to trace the money and determine whether others were involved.
Nautiyal approached the Uttarakhand High Court. Nautiyal has gone to the Uttarakhand High Court to challenge his suspension and the FIR. The court has asked the BKTC to respond, and the next hearing is set for July 16. This case is part of a wider investigation into financial irregularities at the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples. Earlier, the Uttarakhand Government ordered a probe into claims of unauthorised advance payments from temple funds for VIP guests at Kedarnath.
A Government inquiry found early signs of irregularities involving several officials. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had directed a detailed investigation after allegations of donation mishandling surfaced.
Police said Nautiyal will be produced before a court in Gopeshwar after interrogation and medical examination. The investigation is being monitored by senior police officers, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) also involved. Further arrests cannot be ruled out, sources said. The BKTC manages the affairs of the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples under the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Act, 1939.
