The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttarakhand Police arrested Pramod Nautiyal, a suspended employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), in connection with a major donation theft case. Nautiyal, who served as the Personal Assistant to the BKTC chairman, was apprehended at his Dehradun residence following allegations of embezzling devotees' offerings.

The investigation was triggered by social media reports and an official complaint regarding discrepancies during the counting of donations on July 2, 2026. According to the police, CCTV footage caught Nautiyal "suspiciously hiding or stealing" bundles of ₹500 and ₹100 notes, gold and silver coins, sacred Shaligram stones, and offering envelopes.

Footage revealed him making multiple back-and-forth trips between the donation counting room and his private office to conceal the stolen valuables. While Nautiyal has claimed innocence, he remains in custody for questioning as the SIT probes a deeper money trail.