The police have filed a case against a BKTC official who was suspended from his job. This official is accused of taking donations from the Badrinath Dham temple that did not belong to him. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee or BKTC for short is looking into this matter seriously.

Police filed the Case

The police filed the case at the Badrinath Police Station. The case number is 0006. It was filed on Wednesday, July 8. The BKTC Temple Officer, Yudhveer Pushpwan wrote a complaint that led to the case being filed. The police are using the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which’s a new law in India to investigate this case.

The official who is accused of taking the donations is Pramod Nautiyal. He used to work as a Personal Assistant in the office of the BKTC Chairperson. After some people looked into the matter they found out that Pramod Nautiyal might have taken some money that did not belong to him. So the police decided to file a case against him.

How the Allegations Surfaced

The controversy first emerged after claims began circulating on social media on July 2, alleging financial irregularities in how donations were being handled at the Badrinath Temple. In response, the BKTC constituted a three-member inquiry committee to examine the claims.

According to the complaint, this preliminary inquiry uncovered prima facie evidence suggesting that Nautiyal had allegedly withdrawn temple funds without proper authorisation, reportedly during a narrow window between 9 am and 9:30 am. Based on these initial findings, the BKTC suspended Nautiyal with immediate effect on July 7, stating that allowing him to continue in his position risked compromising the fairness and impartiality of the broader investigation.

As part of his suspension, Nautiyal has been attached to the BKTC office in Joshimath, in Chamoli district, and will remain entitled to a subsistence allowance in accordance with applicable service rules. He has also been barred from leaving headquarters without prior approval from the competent authority and is required to fully cooperate with the ongoing inquiry and any disciplinary proceedings that follow.

State Government Steps In With Independent Probe

Not fully satisfied with the BKTC’s initial internal response to the allegations, the Uttarakhand government, acting on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, constituted a high-level, three-member committee on Tuesday evening to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the matter. To help ensure the probe remains impartial, the state government also moved to suspend Nautiyal from his post with immediate effect, reinforcing the action already taken by the temple committee itself.

Officials have been careful to note that the registration of an FIR does not, in itself, amount to a confirmation of the underlying allegations, and that the matter will now be examined through the formal processes of criminal investigation.

Questions Raised Over CCTV Camera Replacement

Adding a further layer of scrutiny to the case, questions have also been raised regarding the recent replacement of CCTV cameras at the Badrinath temple premises. However, the BKTC’s Chief Executive Officer has clarified that the change was carried out as part of routine maintenance work, and stressed that recordings from the previous digital video recorders had been safely preserved and would be made available as part of the ongoing investigation.

Political Reactions

This matter has become political. The Uttarakhand Congress president, Ganesh Godiyal is not happy with the way the government is handling the matter. He wants an transparent investigation. The BKTC Chairman, Hemant Dwivedi said that the temple committee will not tolerate any corruption. He said that if someone is found guilty they will be punished.

Part of a Broader Pattern

This is not the time that something like this has happened. There was a case at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The police found out that some people had taken donations that did not belong to them. The BKTC had already told all the temples under its control to be more transparent about donations. They want to make sure that everything is fair and honest.

What Happens Next

The police are investigating the matter. They will look at all the evidence. They will talk to the people who work at the temple. They will look at the recordings from the CCTV cameras.

The temple authorities are asking people not to spread any rumors about the matter. They want to make sure that the investigation is fair and transparent. This case is part of an issue about financial accountability at religious institutions, in India. The BKTC and the government are taking this matter seriously and they want to make sure that everything is fair and honest.