Karnataka Government Assumes Control of Bengaluru’s Gali Anjaneyaswamy Temple

Swift Summary

• The Gali Anjaneya Swamy temple, located in Byatarayanapura on Mysuru Road in Bengaluru, has been taken over by the Karnataka State Government.
• The temple was declared a ‘Notified Institution’ under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and charitable Endowment Act, 1997.
• A viral CCTV footage showed temple staff allegedly stealing money while counting donations from the hundi (donation box), raising concerns about administrative mismanagement.
• The Commissioner of Religious endowments Department requested an inquiry into the matter on October 1, 2024.
• Following investigations by the additional Deputy Commissioner’s court, it was found:

– Temple trustees lacked coordination and savings despite significant annual earnings.- Alleged misuse of funds and absence of financial records for income and expenditure over 25 years were noted. Financial records were only updated post-government intervention.
– Mismanagement reportedly hurt religious sentiments among devotees after theft incidents gained publicity on social media.

• In response to these findings, the Muzrai Department issued an order declaring government control of the temple as appropriate for public interest on July 8, 2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The state government’s decision to take over administrative control of Gali Anjaneya Swamy temple highlights issues surrounding transparency and accountability in managing religious institutions. Financial mismanagement spanning decades reflects severe governance lapses that could undermine public trust in such organizations.Further exacerbating matters is public outrage fueled by viral footage showing alleged thefts.

Declaring this institution “notified” ensures stricter government oversight moving forward. While this action prioritizes safeguarding devotees’ interests, it also underscores the need for regulatory frameworks that strike a balance between autonomy for religious institutions and accountability standards to prevent future controversies. This case may serve as a precedent for addressing similar challenges across other temples in India.

Read more at: https://www.thehindu.com