Badrinath Temple Staff Arrested for Alleged Donation Theft Amid Ongoing Investigation

In a significant turn of events, a suspended employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has been apprehended by police in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations from the revered Badrinath shrine. Pramod Nautiyal, who served as a personal assistant to the committee chairperson, was arrested at his residence in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, late Sunday evening, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The police have stated that Nautiyal’s arrest follows the filing of a first information report (FIR) on July 7, which charges him with theft as a clerk and aggravated criminal breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case came to light after the temple management issued a show-cause notice to Nautiyal on July 3 when irregularities in donation handling were detected, leading to a preliminary investigation.

A four-member inquiry panel tasked with looking into the allegations revealed that funds from the temple’s donation counting center were unlawfully removed during a specific timeframe on July 2, between 9 am and 9:30 am. The investigation suggested that this action directly resulted in a significant loss to the temple’s funds, which are typically designated for various religious and community welfare activities.

As part of the ongoing investigation, Nautiyal was taken to Badrinath for further questioning, and he is expected to be presented in court on Monday. The temple committee has stated that Nautiyal’s actions were taken for personal gain, prompting his suspension from service, which was intended to maintain the integrity of the temple’s operations and its financial dealings.

The Badrinath shrine is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in India, attracting thousands of devotees every year. Such incidents of financial misconduct within temple administrations can severely undermine public trust and the sanctity of these sacred institutions. Authorities are keen to resolve this matter promptly to restore faith among the devotees and ensure that donations are used appropriately for their intended purposes.

Source: scroll.in