The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has suspended an employee, Pramod Nautiyal, following a probe into alleged financial irregularities in the handling of devotees' donations at Badrinath Dham.

The four-member inquiry panel, comprising finance, legal, and administrative officials, began examining CCTV footage and documents to investigate claims of theft.The suspension came after social media allegations surfaced about discrepancies in donation counting.BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, promising strict action if the employee is found guilty.The controversy also sparked political backlash in Uttarakhand, with Congress criticizing the state government.

The BKTC, a statutory body managing multiple temples and institutions, clarified that donations are counted through a structured process involving committee staff, bank officials, and volunteers.

They urged devotees to avoid spreading unverified information until the inquiry concludes, stressing the importance of maintaining pilgrims' faith.