A case has been filed at the Badrinath Police Station by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) concerning the suspected misappropriation of temple funds. The complaint has led to legal action under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The situation has escalated for Pramod Nautiyal, the Personal Assistant at the BKTC Chairman’s office, as he faces an FIR following a departmental inquiry and subsequent suspension. FIR No. 0006 was lodged on July 8 at the Badrinath Police Station based on a written complaint by BKTC Temple Officer Yudhveer Pushpwan, invoking Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
In response to allegations of financial irregularities in donation management at the Badrinath Temple, a three-member inquiry committee was formed by the temple committee. Initial findings indicated that Pramod Nautiyal allegedly withdrew temple funds without authorization, leading to his immediate suspension by the BKTC on July 7.
The case has now transitioned from an internal inquiry to a criminal investigation with the formal registration of the complaint. The police have initiated their probe into the matter. However, it is emphasized that the registration of the FIR does not imply guilt, as the final verdict will depend on the police investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
The Uttarakhand government, unsatisfied with the initial response from BKTC, has set up a high-level, three-member committee to independently investigate the donation theft allegations at the Badrinath shrine. To ensure a fair investigation, Pramod Nautiyal has been promptly suspended from his role as the Personal Assistant at the BKTC Chairperson’s office.
