Badrinath Temple Staffer Faces FIR Over Alleged Donation Misappropriation

The Uttarakhand Police have filed a first information report (FIR) against a staff member of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee in connection with serious allegations of misappropriation of donations at the Badrinath shrine. The accused, Pramod Nautiyal, who served as a personal assistant to the committee’s chairperson, has already been suspended from his duties amid the unfolding investigation.

The FIR has been registered under sections that pertain to theft by a clerk or servant and aggravated criminal breach of trust, as enumerated in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The temple authorities had responded swiftly to the allegations, issuing a show-cause notice to Nautiyal after irregularities were detected in the donation process. A preliminary probe conducted by a four-member inquiry panel revealed that on July 2, a significant amount of money had been illegally withdrawn from the donation counting center during a narrow time frame between 9 am and 9:30 am.

The temple committee, in its complaint, has accused Nautiyal of taking the donated funds for personal gain, raising serious concerns about the integrity of financial management within one of Hinduism’s most revered pilgrimage sites. The incident has shocked devotees and stakeholders alike, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in the temple’s operational protocols.

As part of the disciplinary measures, Nautiyal has been relegated to the temple committee’s office located in Joshimath, Chamoli, during his suspension. He has been instructed to remain accessible and is prohibited from leaving the headquarters without prior authorization. Authorities have mandated his cooperation with the ongoing inquiry and any subsequent disciplinary actions that may arise from the investigation.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in religious institutions, especially those that handle significant donations from devotees. As investigations progress, many will be watching closely to see how the temple committee addresses these allegations and fortifies its financial operations to prevent any recurrence of such issues.

Source: scroll.in