The complaint was filed. The FIR followed. The suspension came twice. Someone allegedly moved donation money in half an hour, no permission asked. Now it’s not just a temple inquiry, it’s a police case.
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A case has been registered at Badrinath Police Station following complaint by Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee regarding alleged embezzlement of temple donations. The case has been filed under Sections 306 and 316(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Trouble has mounted for Pramod Nautiyal, who serves as Personal Assistant in the office of the BKTC Chairman. Following a departmental inquiry and his subsequent suspension, police have now registered an FIR against him.
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FIR No. 0006 was registered at Badrinath Police Station on Wednesday, July 8. The complaint was filed by BKTC Temple Officer Yudhveer Pushpwan in writing. As mentioned, the FIR invokes Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
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According to the complaint, the temple committee formed a three member inquiry committee after information began circulating on social media on July 2. These posts alleged financial irregularities in how donations were being handled at the Badrinath Temple.
The preliminary inquiry reportedly found prima facie evidence suggesting that Nautiyal had allegedly withdrawn temple funds without authorisation. This withdrawal is said to have taken place within a narrow window between 9 am and 9:30 am.
Following these preliminary findings, BKTC suspended Nautiyal with immediate effect on July 7.
With complaint now formally lodged, the matter has moved beyond departmental inquiry and entered the stage of criminal investigation. Police have registered the case and begun their probe into the allegations.
Officials have clarified that registering an FIR does not amount to confirming the allegations. The final determination of guilt or innocence will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
Separately, the Uttarakhand government was not satisfied with BKTC’s initial response to the allegations of donation theft at the Badrinath shrine. On Tuesday evening, the state government constituted a high level, three member committee to conduct an independent investigation into the matter.
To ensure an impartial probe, the state government also suspended Nautiyal with immediate effect.
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