Latest news with #KarnatakaHinduReligiousInstitutionsandCharitableEndowmentsAct
India Today
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Karnataka government takes over Bengaluru temple after donation theft allegations
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 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
Hans India
11-07-2025
- Hans India
Govt takes over historic Gali Anjaneya Swamy temple under Muzrai dept
Bengaluru: The historic Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple located in Byatarayanapura on Mysuru Road, Bengaluru, has officially been brought under the jurisdiction of the Karnataka State Muzrai Department. The decision was taken following multiple allegations of financial mismanagement and administrative lapses within the temple trust. A government order, issued under Sections 42 and 43 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, declares the temple a 'notified institution.' This follows a detailed report submitted by the Muzrai Department, which highlighted gross irregularities, including the alleged misuse of temple funds. The controversy came to light last year when CCTV footage emerged showing trust members mishandling money while counting offerings from the temple's donation box (hundi). The video, widely circulated on social media, triggered public outrage and raised questions about transparency in the temple's administration. According to the Muzrai Department's report, the temple generates lakhs of rupees annually, yet the trust failed to maintain proper financial records for over 25 years. Records were reportedly created only after intervention by the department's assistant commissioner. It also stated that despite the substantial income, there has been no surplus recorded, and the expenditure patterns raised suspicions of fund misuse. The report further stated, 'There is no internal harmony among the trust members, and management has been non-transparent. Given the misuse of funds, lack of accountability, and the public sentiment involved, the government deems it appropriate to bring the Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple under direct Muzrai Department control for better regulation and to uphold devotees' faith.' The government order cited all these reasons and officially declared the temple a government-administered 'notified institution' under the 1997 Act. With this move, the administration of the temple is now under the Muzrai Department, ensuring better oversight, record-keeping, and accountability, aiming to restore public trust in one of Bengaluru's most revered temples.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC orders traditional archaka's service at Anjenya temple
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Karnataka government to forthwith restore services of the traditional archaka at Anjaneya temple, believed to be Lord Hanuman's birthplace situated at Anjanadri Hills Koppal district, and warned the state of consequences if its orders are disobeyed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In July 2018 when H D Kumaraswamy was heading the state govt, the Koppal district collector under Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, passed an order to acquire the Anjaneya Temple and assumed power to appoint an administrator to manage the temple. The archaka, Shri Vidyadas Babaji, challenged the takeover of the temple by govt. But the HC only allowed him to perform his duties as archaka of the temple till final adjudication of his appeal. It also allowed him to continue with the Sanskrit Pathshala. However, on March 15 this year, the deputy commissioner of Koppal and other officials visited the temple with the Election Commissioner and forcibly appointed another person to perform the temple rituals and harassed him to force the traditional archaka to leave the place. When he accused the officials of contempt of HC's 2018 order, the HC did not give any relief. Appearing for the archaka, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, informed a partial working day bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta about the way the state govt was attempting to evict the archaka and take full control of the temple and oust the hereditary priest, belonging to Ramanandi community. The bench took a serious view and directed the state officials to scrupulously adhere to the HC's interim orders, failing which contempt proceedings would be drawn against them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The HC in its interim order on Feb 14, 2023, had directed the officials 'not to create any hindrance or obstruction to the petitioner in performing poojas, Archak duties in the said subject temple and also permit him to continue to do so without any interruption, impediment or hindrance from the respondents, its officials or anyone else.'
