Recently, a viral social media post claimed that the Waqf Board had staked a claim to Mumbai’s Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, a significant Hindu religious site. This claim was presented alongside a manipulated graphic that appeared to be from the Marathi daily newspaper Sakal, leading many to believe it was a credible report. The post sparked outrage among users, particularly in the context of the recent Maharashtra elections, where communal sentiments are often heightened.
Claim
The claim made in the viral post is that the Waqf Board has asserted ownership over the land of the Siddhivinayak Temple. This assertion is false, as confirmed by multiple sources.
Fact
Investigations into this claim revealed that both the Maharashtra Waqf Board and the temple authorities categorically denied any such assertion. Junaid Syed, CEO of the Maharashtra Waqf Board, stated that “this is fake news” and confirmed there had been no communication or claims made regarding the temple. Additionally, Pavan Kumar Tripathi, treasurer of the temple trust, emphasized that the temple belongs solely to its devotees and has not received any claims from the Waqf Board. The Marathi newspaper Sakal also issued a statement clarifying that the graphic circulating on social media was fake and not produced by them.
Top sources confirming these facts include:
- NDTV
- Navbharat Times
- BOOM Live
Conclusion
This fact-check falls under the category of False Content, as the information presented in the viral post is wholly false and misleading regarding the Waqf Board’s claims on the Siddhivinayak Temple.
