On June 18, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple donations found lapses in cash handling, employee verification, CCTV surveillance and monitoring of offerings.

Investigators flagged questionable hiring practices, weak security checks and possible discrepancies in records of cash, jewellery and other valuables donated by devotees. The probe has also expanded to examine procurement, land purchases, and other trust-related transactions.

In the above context, a video is being widely shared on social media in which a video showing a man collecting donation offerings and handing them to a priest has gone viral on social media. The video is shared with users claiming it shows priests ‘stealing’ donation money at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

A social media user shared the video with a caption, “A CCTV clip circulating online has sparked controversy after allegedly showing a priest at a Hindu temple discreetly taking cash from a donation area. The footage appears to show currency notes scattered on tables while the priest, standing near the collection area, is seen placing money inside his dhoti. A security guard can also be seen nearby during the incident. The authenticity of the footage, the location, and the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been independently verified. Many social media users are calling for a proper investigation and transparency from temple authorities. Viewers are advised not to conclude official statements or findings are released.”

SouthCheck found that the claim is false. We found that the viral video is from 2024 and shows a donation tampering incident at the Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by the viral video, which led to a post on Lokmat Times’ Instagram account from October 1, 2024, which identified the location as the Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Bengaluru.

The video was shared with a caption that reads, “A viral video from Bengaluru’s Gali Anjaneya Swamy Temple shows two employees discreetly stealing donation money, leading to public outrage. The incident has raised serious concerns about trust and integrity in places of worship.”

We further found that the same video was also shared by India Today on September 30, 2024. The report associated with the video suggests that CCTV footage from Bengaluru’s Gaali Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Byatarayanapura showed individuals allegedly stealing bundles of cash while temple donations were being counted, sparking outrage among devotees. Police launched an investigation after an FIR was filed. Temple authorities later said the incident had occurred over a year earlier and that action had already been taken against those involved, including suspensions and dismissals.

Taking a hint, we searched with relevant keywords and found that the incident was also reported by The Hindustan Times on September 28, 2024. The report suggests that the temple's head priest, Ramachandra, told reporters that the incident had occurred more than a year earlier and that the temple administration had taken swift action. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, he said two executive committee members were suspended for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds. Two cooks were also found to be linked to the scheme and were barred from returning to the temple premises.

Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.