The Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has assured swift and impartial action in the alleged theft of donations at the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, with Chairman Hemant Dwivedi stating on Wednesday, 8 July that the committee took cognisance of the complaint within 24 hours of receiving it. The accused employee has since been suspended and an FIR has been lodged, while a government-appointed probe panel is now active.

How the BKTC Responded

The complaint, received on 3 July, alleged manipulation by an employee in the counting room where donations are tallied. Dwivedi said the committee immediately directed Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad to seek explanations from all officials in the counting room and to secure all CCTV footage on the premises. By evening of the same day, a four-member inquiry committee had been constituted.

'The Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee received this complaint on July 3 that there had been some manipulation by an employee in the counting room. As soon as the matter came to the notice of the Temple Committee, the Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad was directed to immediately seek an explanation from all the officials in the counting room and to secure all the CCTVs in the premises,' Dwivedi said.

Suspension and FIR Against Accused Employee

The inquiry team identified certain irregularities upon its arrival, following which Pramod Nautiyal, Personal Assistant posted in the office of the BKTC Chairman, was suspended with immediate effect on 7 July. The BKTC cited the need to preserve the fairness and impartiality of the investigation as the reason for his removal from service.

An FIR was subsequently lodged against Nautiyal late the same night. Dwivedi added: 'Late at night, the temple committee also lodged an FIR against the concerned employee.'

Government Involvement and Probe Panel

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took cognisance of the matter and directed the formation of a separate probe panel comprising senior government officials. Dwivedi expressed gratitude to the state government and CM Dhami for the prompt response, noting that the government remains open to including domain experts in the panel if required to ensure an impartial investigation.

This comes amid growing scrutiny of donation management practices at major religious shrines across India, where cash-heavy environments present oversight challenges. Badrinath is among the most visited pilgrimage sites in the country, drawing lakhs of devotees annually, making the sanctity of offerings a matter of deep public trust.

BKTC's Assurance to Devotees

'I assure you that a thorough probe will be conducted and strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the matter,' Dwivedi stressed. He underlined that the committee's primary responsibility is to maintain the sanctity of offerings at a site that stands at the centre of faith for millions.

The inquiry is ongoing. Findings from both the BKTC's internal committee and the government-appointed panel are awaited, and further action is expected once the probe concludes.