Money, gold and silver coins pocketed from Badrinath temple donation, 1 arrested

According to the police, preliminary inquiry found prima facie evidence that Nautiyal, an employee of the temple committee, had illegally taken temple cash and other offerings from the donation counting room for his personal benefit. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at Badrinath Police Station for theft by clerk or servant and aggravated criminal breach of trust of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar said that an SIT was constituted under the supervision of DSP. During the investigation, the SIT inspected the scene, recorded statements of the complainant and other witnesses, and examined the CCTV footage from the donation counting room recorded on July 2. “The footage allegedly showed accused Pramod Nautiyal repeatedly taking cash and other offerings out of the counting room by concealing them beneath his mobile phone and in his pockets,” the police have said.

The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) had earlier taken disciplinary action by suspending Nautiyal. According to the order issued by the committee, a show-cause notice was served to Nautiyal on July 3, after allegations of irregularities in the discharge of his official duties came to light.

On July 10, Nautiyal had moved the Uttarakhand High Court after the FIR seeking relief in the matter. The high court had asked the state counsel to get instructions and listed it on July 16.