The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged Badrinath Temple donation theft case has recovered a Shaligram stone and a laptop belonging to the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) from suspended employee and alleged main accused Pramod Nautiyal, Uttarakhand Police said on Monday.
Nautiyal, who was arrested in the alleged temple donation misappropriation case, denied all charges during questioning and repeatedly maintained he had done nothing wrong.
According to Uttarakhand Police, the SIT recovered a Shaligram stone and a laptop issued by the BKTC from Nautiyal's possession. Police said he repeatedly claimed 'Meri koi galti nahi hai, maine kuch nahi kiya."
Police said no cash has been recovered from the accused so far. They added that Nautiyal has also rejected the technical evidence and CCTV footage that form part of the investigation.
The SIT said it will seek Nautiyal's police custody to investigate the money trail and find out whether any other people were involved in the alleged offence.
Earlier in the day, Nautiyal again claimed that he was innocent and said he had no role in the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. He was arrested late on Sunday night by the Chamoli Police's Special Investigation Team from his residence in Dehradun. He was later brought to Badrinath and is being produced before the court for further proceedings.
Nautiyal had denied the allegations against him and said he had done nothing wrong.
SIT Investigation Officer Mahadev Uniyal said the arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the case. He added that the investigation is continuing and more evidence is being collected.
The case relates to alleged theft and irregularities in the handling of donations at the Badrinath Temple, one of the country's most important pilgrimage sites. After the allegations surfaced, the state government formed an SIT to investigate the matter.
Earlier, Uttarakhand Police said CCTV footage allegedly showed Nautiyal hiding or stealing cash, gold and silver coins, Shaligram stones and offering envelopes from the temple's donation counting room.
According to investigators, the footage also showed him making repeated trips between the donation counting room and his office. Police suspect the stolen items may have been hidden in his office.
Police said the CCTV footage from July 2 allegedly shows Nautiyal handling bundles of Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes, gold and silver coins, Shaligram stones and offering envelopes believed to contain around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. Investigators suspect he moved the items from the counting room to his office during these trips.
The investigation began after alleged irregularities were noticed during the counting of devotees' cash offerings on July 2. A preliminary inquiry reportedly found that cash had been removed from the counting area without following the prescribed procedure.
The FIR was registered at Badrinath Police Station on the complaint of BKTC In-charge Temple Officer Yudhvir Pushpwan. The SIT has also recorded his statement, along with those of CCTV control officer Panwar and Harender Kothari, who was present during the donation counting.
Meanwhile, Nautiyal has challenged both his suspension and the FIR in the Uttarakhand High Court. Justice Alok Mehra has directed the BKTC to file its response, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 16.
The case is currently being investigated by multiple agencies, including the state police, the SIT, the BKTC's departmental inquiry committee and a high-level committee headed by the Garhwal Commissioner.
Also read: Badrinath donation theft: SIT arrests suspended BKTC official
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