Badrinath Temple donation embezzlement: BKTC official booked under BNS
Synopsis
A Personal Assistant at the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has been booked for allegedly embezzling donations from one of India's most revered shrines — and the Uttarakhand government, unsatisfied with the BKTC's own probe, has launched a parallel high-level inquiry. With both a criminal FIR and a state investigation now running simultaneously, the case puts temple fund governance under sharp scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
0006 registered at Badrinath Police Station on 8 July against BKTC Personal Assistant Pramod Nautiyal for alleged donation embezzlement.
Case filed under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 , on a complaint by BKTC Temple Officer Yudhveer Pushpwan .
Preliminary BKTC inquiry found prima facie evidence of allegedly unauthorised fund withdrawal between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
Nautiyal was suspended by the BKTC on 7 July and independently by the Uttarakhand government to ensure probe impartiality.
The Uttarakhand government has constituted a separate high-level, three-member committee for an independent investigation.
Officials clarified that the FIR registration does not confirm guilt; final determination rests with police investigation and judicial proceedings.
An FIR has been registered at the Badrinath Police Station against Pramod Nautiyal, Personal Assistant in the office of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Chairman, over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations at the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand. The case, filed on Wednesday, 8 July, invokes Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
How the Case Unfolded
The matter came to light on 2 July when information alleging financial irregularities in the handling of donations at the Badrinath shrine surfaced on social media. The BKTC responded by constituting a three-member inquiry committee to examine the claims. The preliminary inquiry reportedly found prima facie evidence suggesting that Nautiyal had allegedly withdrawn temple funds without authorisation between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
On the basis of those findings, the BKTC suspended Nautiyal with immediate effect on 7 July, citing concerns that his continued presence could compromise the fairness of the investigation.
FIR Registered, Criminal Probe Begins
FIR No. 0006 was registered at the Badrinath Police Station on 8 July, based on a written complaint filed by BKTC Temple Officer Yudhveer Pushpwan. With the complaint formally lodged, the matter has moved beyond a departmental inquiry into the domain of criminal investigation, and police have commenced their probe.
Officials, however, clarified that the registration of an FIR does not amount to a confirmation of the allegations. The final determination of guilt or innocence will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings.
State Government Steps In
Apparently unsatisfied with the BKTC's initial response, the Uttarakhand government on Tuesday evening constituted a separate high-level, three-member committee to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged donation theft. The state government also independently suspended Nautiyal with immediate effect to ensure impartiality in the probe.
The parallel actions by both the BKTC and the state government signal the seriousness with which authorities are treating the allegations against a functionary of one of India's most prominent Hindu pilgrimage shrines.
What Happens Next
The criminal investigation by the Badrinath Police is now underway alongside the state government's high-level inquiry. The outcome of both probes will determine whether further action — including chargesheet and trial — follows against Nautiyal. The Badrinath Temple, a key site of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, draws lakhs of devotees annually, making the integrity of its donation management a matter of significant public interest.
Point of View
With limited public audit and accountability. This case, involving one of the Char Dham's most prominent shrines, could become a pressure point for broader reforms in how temple finances are monitored and verified.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been booked in the Badrinath Temple donation embezzlement case?
Pramod Nautiyal , the Personal Assistant posted in the office of the BKTC Chairman, has been booked under FIR No. 0006 registered at Badrinath Police Station on 8 July. He was suspended by both the BKTC and the Uttarakhand government pending investigation.
Under which legal sections has the FIR been registered?
The FIR invokes Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 . The complaint was filed by BKTC Temple Officer Yudhveer Pushpwan.
What did the preliminary BKTC inquiry find?
The three-member inquiry committee constituted by the BKTC reportedly found prima facie evidence suggesting that Nautiyal had allegedly withdrawn temple funds without authorisation between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. These findings led to his suspension on 7 July.
Why has the Uttarakhand government launched a separate inquiry?
The Uttarakhand government was reportedly unsatisfied with the BKTC's initial response to the allegations and constituted a high-level, three-member committee on Tuesday evening to conduct an independent investigation and ensure impartiality.
Does the FIR confirm that Nautiyal is guilty?
No. Officials clarified that the registration of an FIR does not amount to confirmation of the allegations. Guilt or innocence will be determined only after the police investigation is completed and judicial proceedings conclude.
