Police have arrested a dismissed worker of Sri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee for allegedly embezzling donations and money from devotees at the holy Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand. . According to reliable media sources, Chamoli police and Special Investigation Team arrested accused Pramod Nautiyal from Dehradun on Sunday night and brought him to Badrinath for questioning. .
The irregularities were initially alleged to have taken place in the Badrinath temple counting room on July 2.. CCTV Between 9 am and 9:30 am, Pramod Nautiyal was caught on camera suspiciously carrying donation money and items..
On July 8, the arrested were arrested at Badrinath police station based on the complaint of temple committee official Yudhvir Farswan. 306 and 316(5) of CrPC .
Accused Pramod Naotiyal was working as personal assistant of BKTC chairman . At the time of arrest, a Shalagram stone and a laptop were seized from him, However, the cash was not recovered.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the incident as ‘very serious’.“Stealing from a temple is a sin equivalent to killing one’s parents or killing a cow.”
The government has already constituted a three-member high-level inquiry committee headed by the Garhwal Divisional Commissioner..
On the other hand, The arrest sparked a heated debate between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. Congress state president Ganesh Godyal and Badrinath MLA Lakhapat Butola have alleged that the accused employee was pressured not to reveal the name of another influential person and are demanding a probe by a high court judge..
The BJP, however, claimed that the investigation was going on impartially.