In the wake of the controversy surrounding the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Karnataka government has announced a statewide initiative to strengthen transparency and security in temples under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Muzrai) Department. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday directed officials to install round-the-clock CCTV surveillance covering donation boxes and every stage of the counting process in all Muzrai temples across the state.
Speaking in Belagavi, Shivakumar said the CCTV cameras would monitor donation boxes placed near the sanctum sanctorum as well as the opening of hundis, handling of offerings, and the counting of cash. He added that the surveillance system would be linked to control rooms located in the offices of district Superintendents of Police (SPs), Deputy Commissioners, and taluka-level officials to ensure continuous monitoring of temple-related financial activities.
The Chief Minister said the cameras would function 24 hours a day and provide comprehensive coverage of all areas where temple donations are collected, stored, and counted. He described the move as a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring accountability and preventing any possibility of misuse of devotees' offerings.
Referring to the controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple, Shivakumar said the incident had hurt the sentiments of devotees across the country. "People have contributed bricks, money, gold, and silver out of faith and devotion for the temple. Any alleged theft or misuse of such offerings is deeply humiliating and disrespectful to devotees," he said.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure that CCTV cameras capture every step of the process, including the opening and closing of donation boxes, the counting of money, and the handling of temple funds. He said the surveillance system should function similarly to a traffic-control dashboard, allowing authorities to monitor activities in real time from police and district administration offices.
According to Shivakumar, installation of CCTV cameras will be mandatory in all major Muzrai temples. Officials have been directed to take immediate steps to implement the surveillance network and maintain uninterrupted monitoring throughout the day.
Responding to questions about the alleged Karnataka links in the Ram Temple donation controversy, Shivakumar refrained from making detailed comments and said such questions should be directed to BJP leaders. He added that he would seek an official report before making any observations on the allegations.
The Chief Minister also referred to remarks made by leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who have raised questions over alleged irregularities in donations received for the Ram Temple. Shivakumar said his government's immediate priority was to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in Karnataka by strengthening safeguards in temples under the Muzrai Department.
The decision marks one of the most significant administrative measures undertaken by the Karnataka government to enhance transparency in temple administration, with authorities hoping that continuous electronic surveillance will reinforce public trust in the management of religious institutions and safeguard devotees' contributions.
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