Uttarakhand Orders High-Level Probe into Badrinath Temple Donation Irregularities

The Uttarakhand government has ordered a high-level inquiry into alleged irregularities in the management of donations received by the Badrinath Temple. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the allegations. The panel has been tasked with examining the temple's donation management system, improving transparency and accountability, and recommending reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future. The recommendations will be submitted to the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), which manages Badrinath Temple along with 44 other temples, schools, and dharamshalas across the state.

Officials said CCTV footage from the temple premises is being examined to identify those responsible for the alleged misappropriation of donations. Authorities are also reviewing donation records, cash management procedures, collection and counting processes, and other relevant documents. Meanwhile, the BKTC has launched an internal inquiry into the matter. BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi confirmed that an employee, Pramod Nautiyal, has been suspended after preliminary evidence indicated his alleged involvement in the irregularities.