In a major breakthrough in the alleged donation theft case at Badrinath Dham, the Chamoli Police arrested the main accused from his residence in Dehradun late on Sunday night. As per the official, the accused has been identified as Pramod Nautiyal. Following his arrest, Nautiyal was taken to Badrinath, where investigators are currently questioning him as part of the ongoing probe into the alleged theft of temple donations. Police officials are expected to complete the interrogation before producing him before a court later on Monday.
FIR registered after internal inquiry
According to police, an FIR was lodged against Nautiyal late on Tuesday night. He had been serving as the Personal Assistant to the BKTC chairman before being suspended. The action follows the findings of a four-member inquiry committee constituted by the BKTC. The panel reportedly found the allegations of irregularities in the handling and management of temple donations to be prima facie true, paving the way for further legal action.
State government also orders separate probe
Apart from the BKTC's internal inquiry, the Uttarakhand government has also initiated an independent investigation into the matter. A three-member committee has been constituted by the state government to examine the allegations. The panel is headed by the Garhwal Division Commissioner and has been tasked with submitting its findings and recommendations to the state government after completing the inquiry.
How the controversy came to light
The issue came into the spotlight after allegations of irregularities during the counting of donations at the Badrinath temple surfaced on social media, triggering widespread public attention. Following the online claims, an organisation named "Bhairav Sena" filed a formal complaint demanding a detailed investigation into the matter and registration of an FIR. The complaint led to the initiation of police action and subsequent investigations by both the BKTC and the state government.
About the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee
The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) is a statutory body responsible for the administration and management of the Badrinath temple and several other prominent shrines in Uttarakhand. The committee oversees temple operations, finances, donation management and pilgrim-related arrangements. The investigation into the alleged donation irregularities is continuing, and authorities are expected to examine all relevant evidence before taking further action.
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