Badrinath donation theft: Cash recovered as SIT says accused admitted to crime

A special investigation team (SIT) of Chamoli Police confirmed on Friday that Pramod Nautiyal, a suspended personal assistant of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), has confessed to his role in the alleged theft of temple donations at Badrinath. The confession came after Nautiyal spent four days in police custody following his arrest on July 12. During this time, investigators searched his accommodation at Badrinath Dham and recovered silver coins, small silver idols, silver tortoises, bundles of Nepalese currency notes, and some cash. These items are currently under examination to determine their connection to the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. Badrinath Sub Inspector Mahadev Uniyal stated that Nautiyal admitted to the crime during interrogation. “He confessed to the crime during questioning,” Uniyal said. The SHO further mentioned that Nautiyal did not provide any information implicating others in the offense. After the expiration of his police remand, Nautiyal was produced before the court and returned to judicial custody. During his remand period, the SIT visited several locations including the BKTC office, his residence in Dehradun, and his accommodation in Badrinath as part of the ongoing investigation. Nautiyal was responsible for coordinating VIP protocol and overseeing the counting of donations at the Badrinath temple. As part of the probe, investigators are also reviewing how funds collected for VIP darshan were handled. The alleged theft is being examined through multiple avenues. An internal committee formed by the BKTC has already submitted a preliminary report to the committee chairman. Additionally, the police SIT continues its investigation, while a separate high-level committee established by the Uttarakhand government is conducting an independent inquiry into the matter. The recovery of stolen items from Nautiyal's accommodation marks a key step in the investigation. The police have also seized documents related to Nautiyal’s properties to verify their origin. These documents will be scrutinized to assess whether there is a link between the properties and the alleged financial misconduct. The SIT is working closely with both the internal committee and the state-level committee to ensure transparency and accountability in the proceedings. The incident has sparked concern among local authorities and religious leaders due to the significance of the Badrinath temple as a major pilgrimage site. The temple receives substantial donations from devotees, many of which are used for maintenance and community welfare activities. The alleged theft has raised questions about the security measures in place and the need for stricter oversight of personnel entrusted with managing such resources. As the investigation progresses, all three committees, internal, police SIT, and state-level, are expected to share their findings with the public. The outcome of these inquiries could lead to legal actions against those found responsible, potentially impacting the management structure of the BKTC. Meanwhile, the focus remains on ensuring that the stolen assets are fully accounted for and that appropriate measures are implemented to prevent future incidents.