Karnataka govt takes over Gali Anjaneyaswamy temple in Bengaluru

The Gali Anjaneya Swamy temple at Byatarayanapura on Mysuru Road, which has been embroiled in controversy for some years, has been taken over by the State Government. The temple has been declared a ‘Notified Institution’ under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1997.

CCTV footage had surfaced showing temple staff allegedly stealing money while counting the donations and offerings in the hundi (donation box). The video went viral on social media. Taking this seriously, the government came to the conclusion that the administration of the temple was not proper. On October 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Religious Endowments Department had requested the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district to submit a report regarding the government taking over the temple under Sections 42 and 43 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997

A case was registered in the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s (ADC) court, an inquiry was conducted and the report was submitted to the government by the ADC.

“The temple earned lakhs of rupees annually, but trustees lacked coordination and had no savings, and the money was being misused. Also, no records have been kept regarding the income and expenditure for the last 25 years. It has been found that the records were created after the Assistant Commissioner of the Muzrai Department issued a notice. The theft incident was widely published on social media, which has hurt the religious sentiments of the temple and the devotees,” the report stated.

In this context, the Commissioner of the Religious Endowments Department had recommended to the government that it is appropriate to take over the temple in the interest of the public and the devotees.

On July 8, the Muzrai Department issued an order declaring the temple a ‘notified institution’.