SIT arrests suspended BKTC employee in alleged Badrinath temple donation theft case

A retired employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Chamoli police for allegedly stealing cash from the donation room of the Badrinath temple. Police said CCTV footage showed the former temple officer, Rajendra Chauhan, pocketing money on three occasions before he retired on June 30.According to Station House Officer (SHO) Mahadev Uniyal of the Badrinath police station, the CCTV footage captured Chauhan allegedly stealing cash on June 22, June 25 and June 29. Based on the evidence, he was arrested on Friday afternoon and will be produced before a court on Saturday.#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Based on the leads provided by former temple officer of Badrinath Temple Rajendra Chauhan, the accused in the alleged donation theft at Badrinath Temple, raids are currently underway at his premises in the Badrinath Dham area. Chauhan was arrested today… pic.twitter.com/wIqzqiuhdp— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 17, 2026 CCTV trail widens the probeThe latest arrest comes days after police arrested suspended BKTC employee Pramod Nautiyal, who was working as a personal assistant in the office of the BKTC chairman. Police believe the two suspects may have acted together. Uniyal said the primary evidence points towards a conspiracy, but further interrogation is needed to determine the full extent of Chauhan's role.Police will also approach the sessions court on Saturday to seek Nautiyal's police custody. He was arrested on Sunday and later sent to 14-day judicial custody. According to the SHO, CCTV footage from four donation counting days, June 22, June 25, June 29 and July 2, allegedly showed Nautiyal stealing money on all four occasions.Also Watch:Multiple inquiries underline seriousness of caseNautiyal was responsible for handling VIP protocol and supervising donation counting at the Badrinath temple. According to the BKTC, he joined the committee in 2003 and became a permanent employee in 2014. Despite the arrests, police have not recovered any stolen cash, gold or silver coins. The only item recovered so far is a Shaligram stone. Police said Nautiyal has denied the allegations during questioning and has been avoiding their questions.Badrinath Temple Employee Arrested Over Alleged Misappropriation of Devotee Donations From DehradunThe developments have also led to administrative action within the temple committee. Sandish Mehta, who was in charge of the donation counting centre, was shifted out on Wednesday. BKTC Chief Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangar said no irregularity had been found against Mehta, but he was replaced due to certain deficiencies in the donation weighing process. Kedar Singh Rawat, an employee attached to the puja office, has been given the responsibility.The alleged theft is now being investigated on multiple fronts, reflecting the seriousness of the matter. A four-member internal committee constituted by the BKTC has submitted its preliminary report to the committee chairman. At the same time, the Chamoli police SIT continues its investigation, while a high-level committee formed by the Uttarakhand government is carrying out an independent inquiry.

Former Badrinath temple officer Rajendra Chauhan was arrested for alleged donation theft. CCTV footage showed Chauhan collecting cash bundles and putting them into his pocket. The Special Investigation Team received an internal inquiry report from the temple committee. Investigators identified more suspects after examining fresh CCTV footage from recent dates. The investigation into the temple donation theft case is currently ongoing.

After reaching Badrinath, the committee inspected temple premises, including the CCTV cameras and cash counting room, and examined counting register and other relevant documents.

Dehradun: Police have arrested an absconding employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee in connection with the alleged misappropriation of devotees' offerings at the Badrinath Temple. Accused Pramod Nautiyal was arrested from Dehradun late on Sunday night after evading arrest for several days.Police said Nautiyal was taken into custody at around 11 pm and is being brought to Badrinath for questioning and further legal proceedings.Investigators had been searching for the accused after collecting evidence in the case and conducting raids at several suspected hideouts. His arrest came after sustained efforts by a special police team.#WATCH | Gopeshwar | Accused Pramod Nautiyal, who was arrested by the SIT in Dehradun in connection with the alleged theft of donation money from Shri Badrinath Dham Temple, was produced before the Gopeshwar Court by the SIT today pic.twitter.com/QKGERe83ii— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 13, 2026 The case surfaced after complaints of financial irregularities in the handling and deposit of donations received at the temple. During the preliminary inquiry, investigators found indications of alleged discrepancies in the donation amount, following which an FIR was registered against the employee. Nautiyal had been on the run since the case was lodged.Police officials said the accused will be questioned to ascertain whether other individuals were involved in the alleged fraud. Investigators are also examining financial records, documents and transaction details linked to the temple's donation management system.The investigation gathered further momentum after police scrutinised CCTV footage of the donation counting process. Officials said footage from June 25 shows Nautiyal allegedly carrying bundles of currency notes out of the counting room, adding to the evidence already collected in the case.According to police, donations at the Badrinath temple are usually counted every three to four days. The counting was carried out on June 25, June 29 and July 2, and CCTV recordings from all three dates have been seized and are being examined sequentially.Police have also taken possession of the internal inquiry report prepared by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee along with other documents related to the case.Ram Mandir Donation Theft: Supreme Court Seeks SIT Report, Issues Notice To TrustInvestigators on Sunday recorded statements of committee employees who were present during the donation counting process. More than a dozen people, including Nautiyal, were in the counting room on July 2. Some local seers, who regularly participate in the donation counting process, were also present that day and are being questioned as part of the investigation.Police said the probe is being conducted in a fair and transparent manner and action will be taken against all those found responsible based on the evidence collected.

The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee inquiry committee found the allegations of donation mishandling against Nautiyal to be prima facie true.

CCTV footage showed Pramod Nautiyal suspiciously hiding or stealing cash, gold and silver coins, shaligram stones and offering envelopes from the temple's donation counting room.