Badrinath Temple Donation Row: Committee Aide Suspended, FIR Filed As State Orders High-Level Probe
9 July 20265 min readDevMarg
The office of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has been shaken by allegations that donations offered by pilgrims at the Badrinath shrine were misused. In a swift response, the committee suspended a senior aide, and police have now registered a criminal case as the state government orders its own inquiry.
Key highlights
The BKTC has suspended Pramod Nautiyal, private secretary to the committee chairman, over an alleged donation theft at Badrinath Dham.
Police registered FIR No. 0006 on July 8, 2026, under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The allegations relate to a July 2 incident during the counting of temple offerings.
A four-member panel found prima facie irregularities; CCTV records have been preserved for the inquiry.
The Uttarakhand government has formed a separate three-member committee to report within 15 days.
The suspended official, Pramod Nautiyal, served as private secretary in the office of the committee chairman. He has been named in an FIR filed at the Badrinath Police Station on July 8, 2026. Officials have made clear that the registration of a case does not confirm the allegations and that the truth will be settled through investigation and the courts.
The matter goes back to July 2, during the counting of offerings from the Thali Bhent, the donation plate at the temple. A preliminary inquiry by the committee reportedly found that funds were taken from the counting center during a short window between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
FIR No. 0006 was registered under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, on a written complaint by BKTC Temple Officer Yudhveer Pushpwan. So far, officials have not confirmed how much money is said to be involved.
Suspension and the show cause notice
The concerns first surfaced on social media on July 2, after which a group named Bhairav Sena lodged a complaint and demanded a fair inquiry. The committee moved quickly. A notice seeking Nautiyal's explanation was served on July 3, giving him 48 hours to respond in writing, and a four-member panel was set up to examine the records.
After reviewing his reply and the early findings, the committee placed Nautiyal under suspension with immediate effect on July 7. BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi told reporters that the committee follows a policy of zero tolerance toward anything that hurts the faith of devotees, and that anyone found guilty would face strict action regardless of position. Nautiyal has been attached to the committee office in Joshimath and asked to cooperate fully with the inquiry.
The question over CCTV records
During the inquiry, questions were raised about the replacement of CCTV cameras at the site. The BKTC chief executive clarified that the change was part of a routine process and that the complete records from the earlier recorders have been preserved for use in the investigation. Officials say the footage, along with statements from staff on duty, forms part of the evidence being examined.
The state government orders a separate probe
Taking note of the allegations, the Uttarakhand government has ordered its own inquiry on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. As per an order issued by Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, a committee of three members will examine the complaints and suggest ways to make the temple's donation system more transparent.
The panel is headed by Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop. Its other members are Sandeep Tiwari, Managing Director of the National Health Mission in Uttarakhand, and Jagat Singh Chauhan, Director of Finance in the office of the Director General, Medical and Health Services. The committee has been asked to submit its report and recommendations within 15 days.
What the Chief Minister said
Speaking to reporters in Haridwar, Chief Minister Dhami said any misuse of temple donations was a grave wrong that could not be excused. He assured that strict action would follow against anyone found guilty and said the law would take its own course, adding that whoever is found guilty will not be spared.
Political reactions
The case has also drawn a political response. The Uttarakhand Congress, through its state chief Ganesh Godiyal, has demanded a court-monitored inquiry or a joint committee of the Legislative Assembly to look into the matter. The party has linked the row to a similar donation dispute reported earlier at Ayodhya.
Why this matters
Badrinath Temple is one of the four sacred shrines of the Char Dham Yatra and among the most visited pilgrimage sites in India. During the yatra season, the temple welcomes lakhs of devotees who offer donations with deep faith. The trust placed in temple management is sacred, which is why questions over the handling of offerings draw such wide attention.
The inquiries now underway are expected to review how offerings are collected, counted, and recorded at the shrine, and to recommend steps that protect the faith of every devotee.
This is a developing story
The details in this report are based on official complaints, statements by temple and state officials, and news coverage available as of July 9, 2026. DevMarg will update this article as the investigation moves forward.
Sources: Based on statements to PTI by BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, the official complaint and FIR, and reports by news agencies including ANI, IANS and PTI, with coverage in national outlets, July 7 to 9, 2026.
