Badrinath Dham donation theft: 32 days of CCTV footage missing from probe
Synopsis
Investigators probing the Badrinath Dham donation theft have hit a wall: 32 of the 45 days of CCTV footage claimed as evidence are missing, with technical teams scrambling to recover deleted recordings. The inquiry has already found the theft occurred multiple times, and one temple staffer has been suspended — but without the missing footage, a full accounting may prove elusive.
Key Takeaways
32 days of CCTV footage considered crucial evidence in the Badrinath Dham donation theft case are reportedly missing as of 13 June .
Investigators had initially claimed 45 days of footage were preserved; technical teams are attempting to recover the deleted recordings.
A four-member inquiry team submitted an 18-page report finding that theft of offerings occurred on multiple occasions .
Pramod Nautiyal , a Personal Assistant in the BKTC Chairman's office, was suspended on 7 July following prima facie confirmation of irregularities.
The inquiry recommended installing more cameras in the donation counting room and eliminating surveillance blind spots along the circumambulation path.
A critical gap has emerged in the investigation into the Shri Badrinath Dham donation theft case: 32 days of CCTV footage, considered vital evidence, are reportedly missing, sources confirmed on 13 June. The development marks a significant setback for investigators probing the alleged misappropriation of offerings and donation funds at one of Hinduism's most revered shrines in Chamoli, Uttarakhand.
The Missing Evidence
Investigators had initially claimed that 45 days of CCTV recordings from the temple premises had been preserved as evidence. However, according to sources, the investigation team has not yet received footage for 32 of those days. Technical teams are currently working to recover the deleted recordings, though success is not guaranteed.
The shortfall is partly attributed to the inferior quality of previously installed surveillance equipment. Sources indicated that the older cameras had a storage capacity of just 15 days, meaning investigators could only retrieve footage dating back 14 days prior to the key incident on 2 July.
What the Available Footage Shows
Despite the gaps, the footage that was recovered has proven significant. The alleged accused is reportedly visible in recordings from 2 July, appearing to misappropriate money. Investigators also identified several segments from the preceding 14 days as material to the case.
Preliminary findings from the departmental inquiry suggest that the theft of devotees' offerings and valuables did not occur on a single occasion but took place multiple times. A four-member inquiry team documented the full scope of their findings in an 18-page report submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the temple committee.
Suspension and Departmental Action
The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) moved swiftly on 7 July, suspending Pramod Nautiyal, a Personal Assistant posted in the Chairman's office, with immediate effect. According to the order issued by the BKTC, prima facie allegations of serious irregularities in the discharge of official duties had surfaced against him.
A show-cause notice had been issued to Nautiyal on 3 July, seeking his explanation. Following examination of his clarifications alongside the committee's preliminary report, the allegations were found to be prima facie correct, prompting the suspension.
Recommendations to Prevent Recurrence
The inquiry report went beyond establishing facts — it also offered concrete recommendations to prevent future incidents. The committee proposed installing additional CCTV cameras in the temple's donation counting room and ensuring that all 'blind spots' along the temple's circumambulation path are covered by surveillance. These gaps in coverage are believed to have facilitated the alleged thefts.
Notably, the BKTC had constituted the four-member panel specifically to ensure an impartial and thorough investigation. With the inquiry report now submitted and departmental action already initiated, the focus shifts to whether the missing footage can be recovered and whether a criminal investigation will follow.
Point of View
It raises an uncomfortable question: were the recordings ever preserved, or was the 45-day claim itself overstated? The BKTC's swift suspension of Pramod Nautiyal signals institutional seriousness, but departmental action alone cannot substitute for a robust criminal investigation. Temples of this scale handle crores in donations annually with minimal independent audit. The Badrinath case is a reminder that surveillance infrastructure at major shrines has not kept pace with the volume of cash flowing through them — and that without verifiable, tamper-proof recording systems, accountability will always be partial.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Badrinath Dham donation theft case?
The Badrinath Dham donation theft case involves the alleged misappropriation of offerings and donation funds at the Shri Badrinath temple in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. A departmental inquiry found that theft of devotees' valuables and offerings occurred on multiple occasions, and one temple staffer has been suspended.
Why is the missing CCTV footage significant?
The 32 days of missing footage were considered vital evidence for establishing the full extent and timeline of the alleged theft. Without it, investigators can only rely on the 14 days of footage recovered prior to the key incident on 2 July, limiting the scope of the probe.
Who has been suspended in connection with the case?
Pramod Nautiyal, a Personal Assistant posted in the BKTC Chairman's office, was suspended with immediate effect on 7 July after prima facie allegations of serious irregularities in his official duties were confirmed by the inquiry committee.
What did the inquiry report recommend?
The 18-page inquiry report recommended installing additional CCTV cameras in the temple's donation counting room and covering all surveillance blind spots along the circumambulation path to prevent future incidents.
Can the deleted CCTV footage be recovered?
Technical teams are reportedly working to recover the deleted recordings, but recovery is not confirmed. The older cameras had a storage capacity of only 15 days, which significantly limits what can be retrieved.
