Viral Clip of ‘Temple Sex Racket’ Is Actually Old Mumbai Raid

New Delhi, January 6, 2026: A wave of communal tension and public shock was recently triggered by a viral video claiming that a large-scale sex racket was being operated from a secret basement beneath a temple in Uttar Pradesh. The footage, which shows police officers breaking through a wall to rescue several women from a cramped hidden room, was widely shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp in early January 2026. However, a thorough fact-check has revealed that the video is entirely unrelated to any religious site in UP and is being circulated with a false, inflammatory narrative.

The Reality Behind the Footage

The dramatic visuals are actually from a police raid conducted at a dance bar in Andheri, Mumbai, back in December 2021. At that time, the Mumbai Police’s Social Service Branch acted on a tip-off and raided the “Deepa Bar” after reports emerged of women being forced to dance for customers in violation of local laws. It was during this 15-hour-long operation that 17 women were discovered stashed away in a sophisticated secret chamber located behind a large mirror in the establishment’s makeup room.

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Sophisticated Hiding Spots Discovered

The original investigation in 2021 highlighted the extreme measures taken by bar owners to evade law enforcement. It was reported that the secret basement was equipped with air conditioning, beds, and ventilation to allow the women to remain hidden for long periods during inspections. The video shows the moment police used a hammer to break a suspicious mirror and glass panel, revealing an electronic door that led to the dungeon. The manager and several staff members were arrested at the scene, and the footage was widely covered by national news outlets at the time.

Recycling Old Videos for Communal Hate

This is not the first time this specific clip has been repurposed for misinformation. In the past, the same video was used to falsely target political leaders, and it has now been resurrected to create a false scandal involving a temple in Gorakhpur. Cybersecurity experts have noted that such videos are often “re-packaged” by bad actors to incite religious disharmony or to tarnish the reputation of specific regions. The UP Police have issued clarifications, urging citizens not to fall for such clickbait and to verify information through official channels before sharing.

The Importance of Digital Vigilance

As of January 6, 2026, the viral claim has been debunked by multiple fact-checking organizations. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of “visual misinformation,” where genuine footage is stripped of its context to serve a new, malicious agenda. Users are encouraged to use reverse-image search tools or check reputable news archives when encountering sensationalist videos. Spreading such unverified content not only fuels unnecessary panic but can also lead to legal consequences under cybercrime laws designed to prevent the dissemination of “fake news.”