The Uttarakhand administration has directed the CEO of the Badrinath‑Kedarnath Temple Committee to act against officials implicated in financial irregularities. A Special Investigation Team has gathered CCTV footage and witness statements in the alleged donation theft case.

मुख्य बिंदु (Key Takeaways)

  • Government fast‑tracks probe into Badrinath donation theft
  • CCTV captures Pramod Nautiyal allegedly handling stolen cash and valuables
  • BKTC mandated to submit three‑year bank records and internal inquiry report

The Uttarakhand government has instructed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Badrinath‑Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) to take disciplinary action against officials and employees found responsible for alleged financial irregularities. The order follows a June 25 letter from Deputy Secretary Anil Kumar Pandey of the Tourism and Religious Affairs Department, which cited an inquiry report revealing prima facie evidence of advance funds released from the temple corpus without proper authority.

Findings of the Inquiry Report

The report questioned the conduct of the then‑Manager of Kedarnath, the then‑Chief In‑charge Officer of Kedarnath, and the then‑CEO. It concluded that the disbursement of funds for VIP guest accommodation, food, and other expenses at Kedarnath breached the provisions of the Shri Badrinath‑Kedarnath Temple Committee Act, 1939 and its subsidiary rules. Consequently, the government demanded that the BKTC CEO enforce appropriate penalties as per the Act.

Alleged Donation Theft and CCTV Evidence

In a parallel investigation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) recorded statements from five witnesses concerning the alleged theft of donations at Badrinath Temple. Police disclosed that CCTV footage from July 2 shows the suspended BKTC employee Pramod Nautiyal suspiciously collecting bundles of ₹500 and ₹100 notes, gold and silver coins, shaligram stones, and offering envelopes from the donation‑counting room. The video also captures Nautiyal making repeated trips between the counting room and his office, suggesting an attempt to conceal the stolen items.

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps

Uttarakhand police have ordered BKTC to submit its bank records for the past three years as part of the investigation. Additionally, Nautiyal has challenged his suspension and the FIR in the Uttarakhand High Court, where Justice Alok Mehra directed BKTC to file a response. The next hearing is slated for July 16.

Broader Implications

Badrinath is one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites, attracting millions of devotees annually. Allegations of large‑scale financial misconduct threaten not only the credibility of religious institutions but also test the state’s ability to enforce accountability. The involvement of multiple investigative bodies—police, SIT, BKTC’s departmental inquiry committee, and a high‑level committee chaired by the Garhwal Commissioner—indicates a concerted effort to restore trust and ensure that any misappropriation is swiftly addressed.