A suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has been booked over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations at the Badrinath temple, police said on Wednesday. The action follows a preliminary inquiry by the temple committee that found prima facie evidence of discrepancies in the management of temple donations, prompting both disciplinary and legal proceedings. An FIR has been registered against Pramod Nautiyal, who served as the private secretary to the BKTC chairman, at the Badrinath police station.

Nautiyal was suspended earlier on Tuesday after a four-member inquiry committee constituted by the temple committee submitted its findings indicating suspected irregularities in the handling of donations collected at the shrine. According to police, the case has been registered under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 306 deals with theft by a clerk or servant of property in the possession of an employer, while Section 316(5) pertains to criminal breach of trust.

Investigators will examine financial records, donation registers and other evidence as part of the probe to determine the extent of the alleged misconduct. In addition to the police investigation, the Uttarakhand government has constituted a three-member committee to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations. Headed by the Garhwal Divisional Commissioner, the panel has been tasked with investigating the matter and submitting its findings and recommendations within 15 days.

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The government has said the inquiry is intended to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of the temple. The controversy surfaced after allegations of irregularities during the counting of donations at the Badrinath temple gained traction on social media. Following the reports, an organisation named Bhairav Sena lodged a complaint seeking a detailed investigation and registration of an FIR. The complaint triggered administrative action by the BKTC and subsequent intervention by the state government.

The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee is the statutory body responsible for managing the affairs of the Badrinath temple and several other prominent shrines in Uttarakhand. Badrinath, one of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites, attracts lakhs of devotees every year and receives substantial donations from pilgrims across the country. Authorities have maintained that the investigations will be conducted in accordance with the law and that strict action will be taken if any wrongdoing is established. The case has once again highlighted the importance of financial oversight and transparency in the management of religious institutions entrusted with public donations.

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