'Sin akin to cow slaughter': FIR against suspended Badrinath trust official over temple donation row

DEHRADUN: An FIR has been registered against a suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations at the Badrinath temple.The FIR was lodged late on Tuesday against Pramod Nautiyal, who was serving as the private secretary to the late BKTC chairman, police said.The action came hours after Nautiyal was suspended following a preliminary inquiry by a four-member committee, which found the allegations of irregularities in donation management to be prima facie true, news agency PTI reported.The BKTC is a statutory body that manages the Badrinath temple and other shrines in Uttarakhand.Police said the FIR has been registered under Sections 306 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of the master) and 316(5) (criminal breach of trust).Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said the said crime is a heinous sin, akin to cow slaughter."A committee has been formed, and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty," he added.Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has constituted a separate three-member committee to investigate the matter further.

Officials said the committee, headed by the Garhwal divisional commissioner, has been asked to submit its findings and recommendations to the state government within 15 days.The issue came to light after allegations of irregularities during the counting of donations at the Badrinath temple surfaced on social media.Following the allegations, an organisation named ‘Bhairav Sena’ lodged a complaint seeking an inquiry and registration of an FIR in the case.(With agency inputs)