A major controversy has unfolded at the sacred Badrinath Dham after Uttarakhand Police arrested Pramod Nautiyal, a suspended employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), in connection with the alleged theft and mishandling of devotees’ donations. Nautiyal was taken into custody from his residence in Dehradun on Sunday night by the Chamoli Police and was later brought to Badrinath for questioning as the investigation gathers pace.
Pramod Nautiyal served as the personal assistant to the chairman of the BKTC, the statutory body responsible for the administration of Badrinath Temple and several other important shrines in Uttarakhand. His arrest comes days after he was suspended following a preliminary internal inquiry that reportedly found irregularities in the handling of donations collected at the temple. A four-member inquiry committee constituted by the BKTC also concluded that the allegations against him appeared to be prima facie true, prompting further legal action.
The case gained momentum after CCTV footage from the temple’s donation counting room allegedly showed Nautiyal repeatedly entering and leaving the area under suspicious circumstances. According to the police, the footage appears to show him removing bundles of ₹500 and ₹100 currency notes along with gold and silver coins, shaligram stones, and offering envelopes believed to contain cash. Investigators suspect that the items were taken from the donation counting room and concealed elsewhere before being moved to his office.
The alleged irregularities first came to light on July 2 during the counting of offerings made by devotees at Badrinath Dham. Officials reportedly noticed discrepancies in the donation records, and a preliminary inquiry suggested that cash had been removed from the counting room without following the prescribed procedures. The findings led to the registration of an FIR and the launch of multiple investigations into the matter.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Uttarakhand government has also constituted a three-member high-level committee headed by the Garhwal Division Commissioner to conduct an independent probe. Alongside the state-appointed panel, the Uttarakhand Police, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and the BKTC’s departmental inquiry committee are all examining different aspects of the case to establish accountability.
Meanwhile, Nautiyal has challenged both his suspension and the FIR filed against him before the Uttarakhand High Court. His petition is scheduled to be heard on July 17. The outcome of the court proceedings, along with the findings of the ongoing investigations, is expected to determine the next course of action.
The alleged donation theft has drawn widespread attention because Badrinath Dham is one of Hinduism’s holiest pilgrimage sites, receiving lakhs of devotees every year. The incident has also sparked political debate, with opposition parties questioning the management and security of donations at major religious institutions. As the investigations continue, authorities have assured that the matter will be thoroughly examined and appropriate action will be taken based on the evidence.
