Local officials have confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in July regarding the viral footage, although the exact date of the incident remains unclear. The police are diligently working to identify and apprehend those responsible for the theft.
It is still unclear whether the individuals involved are affiliated with the temple management.
Multiple videos of people stealing donations from a temple in #Bengaluru during the counting process have surfaced, triggering outrage among devotees.
In one video, purportedly from the Shri Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in #Byatarayanapura, a man is seen standing near a table… pic.twitter.com/S9Q3s0romJ
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) September 30, 2024
One video, reportedly from the Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Byatarayanapura, shows a person standing beside a table stacked with cash. While temple officials are engaged in counting the money on the floor, this individual swiftly takes a bundle and discreetly places it in his pocket before departing without being noticed.
Another video captures the same person taking an additional bundle of cash and handing it to someone believed to be a priest, identifiable by his attire.
In another video, an individual is seen visibly carrying a large amount of cash. He strolls around the temple grounds before subtly placing the money into a bag provided by another person. This bag is subsequently handed over to someone seated nearby.
The head priest maintains that the footage is from a previous time; however, the sight of two individuals taking large sums of cash raises concerns among the temple’s devotees.
Ramachandra, the head priest of Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple, clarified that the incident regarding the misappropriation of donations from worshippers took place over a year ago. He also noted that the temple administration has responded by suspending two members of the executive committee due to their involvement in this financial misconduct.
“My family members visit Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple regularly and make offerings out of devotion and gratitude for the favours received from Anjaneya Swamy. I never expected that people working at the temple would steal offerings made by the devotees. The video is quite shocking, swindling the temple’s money,” says a devotee.