- Pramod Nautiyal suspended over Badrinath donation irregularities.
- BKTC initiated police complaint against suspended staffer.
- Investigation into Badrinath Dham donation scam to widen.
State Bureau, Jagran, Dehradun: In a major move on its first day of investigation into alleged irregularities in donation at Badrinath Temple, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) departmental inquiry panel suspended Pramod Nautiyal, a personal assistant in the chairman's office.
The committee, which arrived at the shrine on Tuesday, flagged Nautiyal's role as suspicious during its initial investigation and immediately informed senior officials. Without any delay, the BKTC administration suspended Nautiyal.
Following the suspension, police have filed a case against him at the Badrinath police station. Based on a written complaint by Yudhveer Pushpavan, temple officer of BKTC, an FIR was registered at the Badrinath police station on July 8, 2026 under sections 306 and 316(5) of the Indian Penal Code ( BNS ), 2023.
BKTC Takes Major Action Against Staffer
According to a report by Jagran.com, the inquiry committee found serious evidence on its very first day of the investigation, establishing that Pramod Nautiyal's involvement in the donation-related irregularities was prima facie suspicious.
In response to these findings, BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi ordered strict departmental action against the staffer to send a clear message that the administration will maintain transparency and zero tolerance in the matter.
Badrinath Dham Donation Probe Set To Widen
The investigation into the Badrinath Dham donation scam is expected to expand following initial actions. Departmental and high-level inquiry committees will broaden their focus beyond the role of a single individual. Instead, investigators are planning to conduct a review of the entire incident along with an audit of the temple's fund management.
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The ongoing investigation will involve a thorough examination of documents, records, CCTV footage, and statements from relevant employees. If the inquiry reveals suspicious involvement by other individuals, departmental and legal action may be recommended against them.
The report further indicated that as the investigation progresses, more layers of the case are likely to unfold, potentially revealing more names involved in the scam.
(With Inputs From Jagran.com/Ashwani Kumar Tripathi)