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Karnataka government takes over Bengaluru temple after donation theft allegations

Karnataka government takes over Bengaluru temple after donation theft allegations

India Today14-07-2025
The Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Bengaluru, has officially been taken over by the State Government and declared a 'Notified Institution' under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997. The decision follows a series of controversies, including allegations of corruption, mismanagement and theft of temple donations that surfaced last year. Karnataka Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Ramalinga Reddy, said the intervention was necessary. 'We have taken over the temple following reports of disproportionate assets, corruption, and irregularities. The takeover is for a period of five years. We will streamline the administration and then hand it back to the temple trustees. Similarly, the Bharatiya Janata Party government had taken over eight temples during their tenure. If we are able to resolve the irregularities earlier, we will hand it back sooner,' he stated.advertisementThe temple had drawn public attention in September 2024, when multiple videos emerged online showing individuals allegedly stealing donations during the counting process. One video appeared to show a man quietly pocketing a bundle of cash from a table stacked with currency while temple authorities were engaged in counting on the floor. In another, the same man was seen handing a bundle of cash to a person dressed in priestly attire. A third video captured a different man carrying a wad of currency around the premises, eventually transferring it into a carriage bag passed to him by another individual, who then handed it to a man seated on a chair.
The videos triggered outrage among devotees and prompted calls for accountability. Though the identities of those involved were not immediately known, local authorities confirmed that a First Information Report was filed in July 2024 based on the footage. The police launched an investigation to trace the individuals involved in the suspected thefts.- Ends
IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru
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