An irregularity involving donation money at the world-famous Badrinath Temple has now reached the stage of a formal police investigation. Following a complaint filed by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), police have registered an FIR against committee employee Pramod Nautiyal and started an inquiry into the matter.
According to the complaint submitted by the temple committee, the issue came to light during the counting of donations and offerings received at the temple on 2nd July. During an initial review, officials noticed signs of possible irregularities in the handling of the money collected from devotees.
The committee said that between 9 am and 9:30 am, a portion of the donation amount was removed from the counting centre in violation of the established rules and procedures.
Based on the preliminary findings, the committee first issued a show-cause notice to Pramod Nautiyal. He was later suspended from his duties. Following the complaint, police registered a criminal case and have now begun a detailed investigation.
Officials said documents related to the case, staff duty records and other evidence are being examined carefully. They added that responsibility would only be fixed after the investigation is completed.
The government forms a high-level committee.
After the issue surfaced, Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter. Following his directions, the state government constituted a three-member high-level committee to investigate the allegations.
Anand Swaroop, the Commissioner of Garhwal Division, has been appointed as the chairman of the committee. Former Chamoli District Magistrate and National Health Mission Managing Director Sandeep Tiwari and Finance Director of the Health Department Jagat Singh Chauhan have been appointed as members.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. The government said strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty, adding that transparency and accountability in religious institutions must be maintained.
The investigation focuses on key questions
With the FIR now registered, investigators are trying to find answers to several important questions.
One of the main issues under examination is who authorised Pramod Nautiyal’s deployment from the temple committee’s office in Dehradun to Badrinath and who assigned him sensitive responsibilities related to donation management and protocol arrangements.
Investigators are also examining whether the established system for monitoring and counting donations was properly followed. If any procedural lapses are found, authorities will determine at what level the responsibility lies.
Who is Pramod Nautiyal?
Pramod Nautiyal has been associated with the temple committee for several years. He was working in the office of the BKTC chairman and was also involved in duties related to protocol and donation management.
According to media reports, he joined the committee in 2014 as an internet coordinator before later being promoted to higher responsibilities within the organisation.
However, BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi has denied reports that Nautiyal served as his personal secretary, saying that he was only an employee of the committee.
With both a police investigation and a high-level inquiry now underway, the case has grown beyond allegations against a single employee. The findings of the investigations are expected to reveal how the irregularities allegedly took place, where the monitoring system failed and whether responsibility extends beyond the individuals currently under scrutiny.
