Outrage over viral video showing alleged theft at Gaali Anjaneya Swamy temple; Head priest addresses concerns

A viral video allegedly depicting the theft of donations at the Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Karnataka has ignited concern and anger among its devotees. The footage shows two individuals counting the temple’s donations, with one secretly passing a bundle of cash to the other, who then pockets it. This shocking revelation has led to outrage, as many devotees believe their contributions are being misused instead of being directed toward the temple's development.

Temple administration responds to allegations

In the wake of the video's circulation, the temple's head priest, Ramachandra, clarified that the incident took place over a year ago. In an interview with Bangalore Mirror, he explained that the temple administration acted promptly at that time. Two executive committee members were suspended for their involvement in the misappropriation of funds, and two cooks found guilty of the same offense were barred from returning to the temple.

This is why Government should handover the administrative duties to the temples..
Here in GaaLi Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Bengaluru, administration staff is pocketing money while it’s counted.. and after few seconds picked up another bundle and handing it over to another guy.. Shame pic.twitter.com/fI1RF27Dyx

— 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑰𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓 (@IyengarShashank) September 27, 2024

Ensuring transparency and security

To reassure devotees, Ramachandra highlighted the measures taken to prevent future thefts, including an increase in CCTV cameras throughout the temple premises and the inclusion of students and volunteers in the donation-counting process. "I want to tell the devotees not to have any doubts while making offerings to Anjaneya Swamy. There is no scope for swindling or stealing offerings made by the devotees," he stated, emphasizing the administration's commitment to transparency and security.

Despite the priest's reassurances that the incident has been addressed, the video has drawn widespread criticism online, with many users condemning the temple officials for their actions and demanding strict punishment for those involved in the theft. This incident has left many devotees distressed, raising significant concerns regarding the integrity of the temple’s donation management.

The temple administration continues to call for trust from its devotees, reaffirming its dedication to upholding the sanctity of the offerings.