The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested Badrinath Dham Offering and Donation Officer Pramod Nautiyal in connection with the alleged irregularities involving the temple's donation fund.
Nautiyal was taken into custody in Dehradun at around 8 pm before being brought to Badrinath as part of the ongoing probe.
Investigators said the officer faces serious allegations in the case and indicated that the investigation could lead to action against several other individuals as more evidence emerges.
The arrest marks a major milestone in the inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of devotees' offerings at Badrinath Dham, one of India's most prominent pilgrimage destinations.
The investigation relates to allegations that offerings made by devotees at the Uttarakhand shrine were misappropriated.
Reports said an internal inquiry uncovered irregularities during the counting of thali offerings on July 2, 2026. The findings led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), after which the scope of the investigation was widened.
Authorities allege that cash and other offerings were removed from the temple's donation-counting area. Initial reports described the matter as involving the alleged theft or embezzlement of devotees' donations and valuables.
The complaint initially triggered a departmental inquiry before the matter was taken up by police, who launched a criminal investigation.
The probe has since been transferred from the temple authorities' internal inquiry to the police and the Special Investigation Team. Before being arrested, Nautiyal had reportedly challenged both the FIR and his suspension before the High Court.
Following his arrest, investigators are expected to continue examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged irregularities.
The SIT has also said the investigation remains ongoing and that further action could be taken against others if evidence establishes their involvement.
The allegations have drawn significant public attention because Badrinath Dham is among the country's most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites. As a result, the alleged misappropriation of devotees' offerings has raised concerns extending beyond financial misconduct to questions of public faith and trust.
The controversy has also prompted religious leaders and public representatives to demand strict action.
The Uttarakhand government has said that anyone found responsible during the course of the investigation will face action.
Nautiyal's arrest is the latest development in the SIT's inquiry into the alleged donation fund irregularities.
Investigators are continuing to scrutinise the movement of temple offerings, the donation-counting procedures and the role of individuals linked to the case.
The SIT has reiterated that the investigation is still underway and has indicated that further action may follow as additional evidence is collected.
