Hyderabad’s Viral “Golden Ganesha” Sparks Buzz, But Police Say Gold Claims Are False
Social media posts claimed that the 48-kg Panchaloha Ganesha idol was coated with 24-carat gold and decorated with 3,83,800 American diamonds. Hyderabad police have now called those claims false and misleading.
Hyderabad: A dazzling Ganesha idol that attracted considerable attention during the Ganesh festivities at Begum Bazaar’s Feelkhana has now become the centre of a social media controversy.
The idol, popularly referred to online as “Lee Chee Ka Raja Ganesh 2026”, went viral after several posts described it as a 48-kg Panchaloha idol allegedly coated with 24-carat gold and adorned with 3,83,800 American diamonds.
Photos and videos showing the glittering idol quickly spread across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and X. Online posts also claimed that the idol had been inspired by Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja and Tirupati Balaji and was specially crafted by artisans as an offering for devotees.
However, Goshamahal police have now stepped in to dispute those claims.
Police Deny 24-Carat Gold Claim
Goshamahal police described the viral information as “false and misleading.”
Inspector B. Sravan Kumar said the idol falls within the jurisdiction of the Goshamahal police station and was not made using the materials or in the manner described in the viral messages.
The officer specifically rejected the claim that the idol was coated with 24-carat gold.
Police also alleged that certain organisers associated with the celebrations promoted the claims in order to advance the commercial interests of Lee Chee Pearls and Jewels and gain an advantage by creating a misleading impression about the idol.
The allegations made by police are part of their clarification regarding the viral posts.
Police Urge People Not To Spread Unverified Claims
With the idol’s images continuing to circulate online, police have appealed to people not to believe or forward information without verifying it.
The incident highlights how quickly eye-catching claims surrounding religious celebrations can spread on social media. What began as a striking Ganesha idol attracting devotees has now become a discussion about misinformation and promotional claims.
Authorities have urged the public to rely on official and verified information and avoid forwarding unverified messages.
For devotees visiting the idol, the focus now remains on the Ganesh festivities, while police work to counter what they describe as misleading information circulating online.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
