A major controversy has erupted at the historic Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple in Melukote, Mandya district, after allegations surfaced regarding the theft of gold, silver, and cash from the temple’s hundi (donation box). The incident has sent shockwaves through devotees and the local community, as suspicion has reportedly fallen on individuals associated with the temple administration itself.
The complaint was filed by the temple's Executive Officer (EO), Sheela, at the Melukote Police Station. Based on the complaint, police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of valuables and cash belonging to the temple.
According to the complaint, several temple employees are named, including the temple manager, Parupattedar, priests, attendants, and security personnel. The list of names in the complaint is Parupattedar Sridhar, priest Narayana Bhatta, attendant Thiruvenkatachar, and security guards Gangadhar and Basavaraj. Authorities believe the theft may have been committed by insiders due to the peculiar circumstances of the case.
Temple officials became suspicious about repeated incidents of the temple’s CCTV surveillance system, sources said. On several occasions, miscreants had damaged CCTV cameras installed on the temple premises, they said. The temple administration is said to have installed hidden surveillance cameras to monitor activities without drawing attention.
But even these secret cameras were suspected of having been damaged and tampered with. The installation and location of the hidden cameras were only known to a limited number of administrative staff, temple officials said. That has led investigators to believe that there could be inside information on the alleged wrongdoing.
The complaint, however, mentions a theft that was reported on January 12, 2026. The theft may have been a large-scale one, officials say, following earlier allegations that Vajrangi ornaments of the temple were stolen.
After the incident, the temple administration sent notices to the employees of the temple to respond to the allegations and suspicious activities. But according to the Executive Officer, no satisfactory responses were received from those who were served notices. The administration then went to the police and filed a formal complaint, resulting in the registration of an FIR.
The Melukote Police have started gathering evidence and will question the suspects and conduct interviews with the accused individuals as part of the investigation. They will also look into temple records, surveillance footage, financial accounts, and the inventory of donations and valuables kept at the temple.
The Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple in Melukote is one of Karnataka's most venerated religious places and draws thousands of devotees every year. As a result, the allegations have attracted huge public interest and concern among the devotees who expect transparency and accountability in the management of temple assets.
Police are investigating whether the theft took place and who was responsible, and will now look for any missing cash or possessions, said one of the officers.
