A Special Investigation Team recovered a Shaligram stone and a laptop from Pramod Nautiyal on Monday [1, 2].
The seizure is part of an ongoing probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings from devotees at the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand [3]. Because the temple is a major spiritual center, the theft of sacred objects and funds carries significant religious and legal weight in the region.
Nautiyal was arrested in Dehradun on July 13 [2, 3]. While investigators have recovered one laptop [2] and one Shaligram stone [1], they have not yet recovered any cash [1]. The SIT is now seeking custody of the accused to further investigate the financial trail of the missing donations [2, 3].
Nautiyal denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations [1]. The investigation focuses on how the offerings were diverted and whether other individuals were involved in the scheme [3].
The Badrinath Temple is one of the most visited shrines in India, making the security and management of its donations a high priority for state authorities [3]. The recovery of the laptop is expected to provide digital evidence that could link the accused to the missing funds [2].
“The SIT recovered a Shaligram stone and a laptop from Pramod Nautiyal.”
The recovery of a sacred Shaligram stone alongside digital hardware suggests the theft involved both cultural artifacts and financial assets. The SIT's focus on the 'money trail' indicates that the laptop may contain the ledger or communication logs necessary to prove the scale of the misappropriation, which remains unquantified since no cash was found during the arrest.
