Badrinath Donations – Panel Begins Review of Alleged Temple Fund Irregularities
Badrinath Donations – Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop will lead a three-member panel formed by the Uttarakhand government to examine allegations of irregularities involving donations at Badrinath Dham Temple. The committee is expected to hear from complainants and other stakeholders before submitting its findings to the state government.
Committee to Hear All Concerned Parties
The panel includes Sandeep Tiwari, Managing Director of the National Health Mission, and Jagat Singh Chauhan, Director (Finance) in the Office of the Director General, Medical and Health Department.
Swaroop said the committee would contact people connected to the case, including those who raised the complaint, to understand their accounts of the incident. He said the inquiry would also examine ways to improve the donation-handling process and reduce the possibility of future disputes.
According to the commissioner, the panel has been asked not only to review the allegations but also to recommend measures that could make the system more accountable and transparent.
State Government Orders High-Level Inquiry
The Uttarakhand government set up the committee on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The move followed allegations that money offered by devotees at the Badrinath shrine was improperly removed during the counting process.
Officials have said the inquiry is intended to ensure that the matter is examined independently and that any necessary administrative action is based on verified findings.
The committee’s report is expected to guide the government on whether changes are needed in the supervision, counting and record-keeping of temple donations.
Alleged Removal of Funds During Counting
The controversy relates to the counting of Thali Bhent, or offerings collected through donation plates, on July 2. A preliminary review conducted by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee found that funds were allegedly taken from the donation counting centre during a period of about 30 minutes, between 9 am and 9.30 am.
The initial findings prompted the temple committee to refer the matter to police. Authorities are now examining the circumstances in which the alleged removal took place and whether established procedures were bypassed.
The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee manages several important shrines in Uttarakhand and oversees the collection and administration of offerings received from pilgrims.
Police Register Case Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
An FIR has been registered at Badrinath Police Station under Sections 306 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The complaint was filed by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.
The FIR alleges that Pramod Nautiyal misappropriated temple funds for personal benefit. Police are investigating the allegation, while the government-appointed committee will separately review the wider administrative and procedural issues connected to the case.
No final conclusion has been announced, and the allegations remain subject to the ongoing inquiry and legal process.
Employee Suspended Pending Investigation
Following the preliminary inquiry, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee suspended Nautiyal with immediate effect. The committee said the action was taken to support a fair and impartial investigation.
Chief Minister Dhami has said that those found responsible would face strict action. He has also stressed that wrongdoing involving religious donations would not be tolerated.
The inquiry panel is now expected to gather statements, assess available records and submit recommendations aimed at strengthening safeguards around the handling of donations at Badrinath Dham Temple.