An FIR has been registered against Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee PA Pramod Nautiyal on charges of embezzlement in donations. He has been suspended. The Uttarakhand government has also constituted a high-level committee to investigate the matter.
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [भारत]July 8 (ANI): A criminal case has been registered against Pramod Nautiyal, personal assistant in the office of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman, on charges of illegal misappropriation of temple offerings.
This FIR was registered at Badrinath Police Station under sections 306 and 316(5) of the Indian Code of Justice (BNS), 2023. The complaint filed by BKTC has accused Nautiyal of illegally misusing temple funds for personal gain.
The charges relate to an incident on July 2, which occurred during the counting of offerings from thali bhentha (charity box). A preliminary investigation conducted by the committee found that temple funds were secretly withdrawn from the donation counting center over a 30-minute period between 9:00 am and 9:30 am.
Following these prima facie findings, BKTC suspended Nautiyal from his post before taking formal legal action. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to ensure the integrity of the temple’s donation process.
Internal action and suspension of BKTC
Earlier, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), in an important step to maintain administrative transparency and discipline, had also suspended Pramod Nautiyal, personal assistant posted in the chairman’s office, with immediate effect.
According to an order issued by the committee, a show cause notice was issued to Nautiyal on July 3 after prima facie allegations of serious irregularities in the discharge of his official duties emerged.
A four-member inquiry committee was also formed for an impartial and detailed investigation of the case. After examining the explanations submitted by the employee and the preliminary findings of the Inquiry Committee, the allegations were found to be prima facie justified.
The committee recommended disciplinary action against the employee in its report, stating that allowing him to remain in his current post could potentially influence or hinder the ongoing investigation.
Keeping these findings in mind and to ensure a fair, transparent and impartial investigation, BKTC has suspended Pramod Nautiyal with immediate effect. During the suspension period, he will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per the applicable rules.
He has also been attached to the BKTC office at Joshimath in Chamoli district. They will not be allowed to leave the headquarters without prior approval of the competent authority and will have to cooperate fully in the ongoing investigation and disciplinary proceedings.
Government formed high-level investigation committee
Meanwhile, in view of the alleged irregularities and complaints related to donations and offerings at Badrinath Dham and keeping in mind the seriousness of the matter, the Uttarakhand government has constituted a three-member high-level committee on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
This committee will be headed by the Commissioner of Garhwal Division. Its members include Sandeep Tiwari, Managing Director, National Health Mission (NHM) and Jagat Singh Chauhan, Director (Finance) in the office of the Director General, Medical and Health Department. (ANI)
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