Private Secretary to the Chairman of the Temple Committee, Pramod Nautiyal, suspended

• Donation theft case at Badrinath Dham

• Temple Committee's inquiry panel finds evidence of donation theft !

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) – In connection with allegations of donation theft at the renowned Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand, Pramod Nautiyal, the Private Secretary to the Chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, has been suspended. Taking the matter seriously, the Uttarakhand Government has also constituted a three-member high-level inquiry committee under the chairmanship of the Garhwal Commissioner.

🛕Following evidence of donation theft at Badrinath Dham, the Temple Committee Chairman’s Private Secretary, Pramod Nautiyal, has been suspended.

How long will Hindu money be mismanaged? It is high time that all temples across the country are freed from state control and handed… https://t.co/gVUgOjkOJH pic.twitter.com/t5p7vTKJ2d

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) July 8, 2026

1. After allegations of irregularities in the counting of donations at Badrinath Dham began circulating on social media, an organisation named Bhairav Sena lodged a complaint with the police, demanding an investigation into the matter and registration of a criminal case.

2. Following these allegations, the Temple Committee constituted a four-member inquiry panel. The panel is examining CCTV footage, recording statements of employees and verifying previous records.

3. The panel’s preliminary inquiry found that the allegations of donation theft were true. Following this, Temple Committee Chairman Hemant Dwivedi suspended his Private Secretary, Pramod Nautiyal. He has also been directed not to leave the Committee headquarters without prior permission.

4. In connection with this theft, a three-member Government inquiry committee has been constituted on the orders of Dheeraj Singh Garbyal, Secretary of the State Tourism Department. The Garhwal Commissioner will head the committee. It has been directed to submit its inquiry report and recommendations to the Government within 15 days.

5. The Chairman of the Temple Committee has clarified that the committee follows a policy of “zero tolerance” towards corruption and that strict legal action will be taken against those found guilty.

Editorial Perspective

As more cases of donation theft at temples are coming to light, it is becoming clear that there is no alternative but to place all Government-controlled temples, as well as other temples across the country, exclusively under the control of devotees ! Hindus must now exert pressure to achieve this, as it has become evident that the Government is incapable of carrying out this responsibility !