The Calcutta High Court on 27 August ordered that Durga Puja committees that did not submit last year’s utilisation certificates of grants will not receive such funds given by the West Bengal government this year.
The High Court imposed this ban on the granting of funds to the Durga Puja committees in the state by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee government, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the West Bengal government’s decision to provide grants to the puja committees.
At the same time, the Division Bench of Justice Sujoy Pal and Justice Smita Das De also ordered that all the Durga Puja clubs, that will receive the puja grants this year, will have to submit the utilisation certificates of their grant money to the West Bengal Director General of Police and Kolkata Police Commissioner within one month after Vijayadashami on 2 October this year.
The matter will be heard again after a month of Durga Puja holidays. In the hearing on Wednesday, state Advocate General Kishore Datta said, “A total of 41,795 clubs were given Puja grants last year. Out of them, only three clubs did not submit the utilisation certificates. Those clubs are from Siliguri in north Bengal.” After hearing this, Justice Sujoy Pal said the court does not want to go into the data and made its position clear that those who have not given the utilisation certificate will not be given money this year. In this regard, advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the plaintiff, said that the court’s order was that the utilisation certificate should be given within a specified time. After hearing the arguments of both sides Justice Sujoy Pal said that the state will have to follow the 2022 Calcutta High Court order in the current year.
On 13 September 2022, Justice Prakash Shrivastava had ordered that the grants should be sanctioned only if the utilisation certificate of previous year’s money was submitted within a specified time. In 2022, the state government had told the court that the grants were given to raise awareness about ‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ and to comply with the Coronavirus restrictions.
This year, Chief Minister Banerjee has increased the grant for Durga Puja by ₹25,000 to ₹1,10,000 for each club, which will cost the state exchequer almost ₹500 crore. Following the announcement, two PILs were filed at the Calcutta High Court against the Durga Puja grant. One of the PILs has been filed by Durgapur resident Sourav Dutta, who has questioned how money from the state exchequer would be used to provide Durga Puja grants. The state government started providing financial assistance to the puja committees in 2018. In the first year, the grant was Rs 10,000. In 2019, it was increased to ₹25,000. After that, the amount of the grant continued to increase every year. Last year, it was increased to ₹85,000.
-IANS
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A recent Instagram post by part-time-politician Vijay has gone viral, reportedly crossing over 10 million likes within a day an achievement widely circulated by local media and Vijay fans as a record-breaking moment. The post, a selfie video from Vijay’s second state-level TVK conference held in Madurai on 21 August 2025, currently stands at 12.5 million likes and 262,000 comments, despite Vijay having just 14.1 million followers on the platform.
However, the credibility of this viral success is now being questioned. Analysts and critics have pointed out signs of manipulated engagement, noting that the like count surpasses posts by global figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Virat Kohli, which is highly unusual for a regional political figure. This has led to growing speculation that paid promotion, or artificial boosting may be behind the viral numbers.
Unnatural Engagement Patterns
A closer look at the post’s performance reveals several red flags:
The video saw an engagement spike of over 11.6 million likes in less than 24 hours.
Instagram analytics indicate a 4,392% increase in followers and a 1,013% jump in engagement ratio in just a week.
The number of comments also soared by 2,843%, raising doubts about the authenticity of the interaction.
Such disproportionate growth in engagement especially compared to established global celebrities has led many to suspect that the numbers are not organic but likely the result of third-party services, including bots or purchased likes and followers.
Demographic Discrepancies
Perhaps the most damning evidence lies in the geographical source of the engagement. Data suggests:
Only 1.02% of likes are from Tamil Nadu, the core of Vijay’s fan base.
A significant portion 38% originates from states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, where Vijay’s political or film-related influence is minimal.
26% of engagement comes from Assam, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, and another 18% from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
Given Tamil Nadu’s population demographics, especially among the Instagram-active youth (ages 20–35), experts argue it’s highly unlikely for a political post to achieve such traction particularly when most engagement comes from regions with little to no connection to Vijay or his political outfit, TVK (Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam).
Pattern Repeats?
This isn’t the first time Vijay’s social media strategies have come under scrutiny. In an earlier incident, it was alleged that his team had purchased a Facebook page that previously belonged to a actress fan page to inflate their follower count, presenting an illusion of mass support online.
Allegations of Social Media Manipulation
Critics claim that this recent post may be yet another manufactured publicity stunt, estimating that such engagement inflation could cost anywhere between ₹40 to ₹50 lakh, if done through paid engagement platforms. The goal, they argue, is to project Vijay as a politically powerful figure with mass appeal using numbers that don’t hold up to scrutiny.
In conclusion, what appears to be a viral success on social media may, in fact, be a strategic digital façade aimed at inflating political credibility. As questions grow around the authenticity of Vijay’s Instagram popularity, there is increasing demand for transparency and independent verification of the metrics involved in such posts. Observers call this yet another instance of “old wine in a new bottle” a familiar tactic dressed in a new form to create an illusion of mass support.
Just Like His Box Office Numbers
Vijay-starrer Leo was touted as a historic blockbuster—hailed as the second highest-grossing Tamil film of 2023, the seventh highest-grossing Indian film of the year, the third highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, and the biggest Tamil hit overseas as well as in Tamil Nadu. Industry hype pegged its earnings at a staggering ₹600 crore.
But the producer’s official filing with the Income Tax Department told a very different story: the actual theatrical revenue stood at just ₹160.56 crore. The inflated figures had in fact bundled in pre-release and post-release sales of rights, which accounted for the bulk of collections:
Digital rights: ₹124 crore
Audio rights: ₹24 crore
Hindi distribution rights: ₹24 crore
South Indian satellite rights: ₹72 crore
In total, the verified revenue amounted to ₹404.56 crore—far short of the mythical ₹600 crore narrative.
Just like inflating box office numbers for his films, Vijay now seems to be inflating his social media posts to portray himself as a big political player.
Congress functionary Manish Tiwari and senior leader Jairam Ramesh have indulged in peddling fake news. The duo circulated an image on social media alleging that the RSS did not participate in any anti-British movement between 1925 and 1947.
According to a report by Organiser, the document shared online was not an authentic historical record but an AI-generated fabrication. The report purportedly attributed to the “British Home Department” was flagged as fraudulent, as no such department existed in British India.
Discrepancies in the Document
The image carried several inconsistencies that raised doubts about its authenticity. The British emblem appeared distorted, with the original motto “Dieu et mon droit” altered to “Dieu Droit,” which has no meaning. The seal also showed random scribbles, allegedly typical of AI-generated images.
Fake News peddler @Jairam_Ramesh is sharing AI generated pic to Defame RSS.
Truth:
– "British Home Department" never existed
– The original logo reads "Dieu et mon droit" meaning "God and my right."
But in Congress made AI-generated image, it says only "Dieu Droit."
Additionally, the document referred to the organisation as “RSS.” Historians note that British records consistently used “R.S.S.S.” to denote the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The controversy comes just hours before RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat is set to deliver a three-day lecture series at Vigyan Bhawan, themed “100 Years of Journey of RSS: New Horizons.”
RSS Role in Freedom Struggle
The organisation also highlighted its contributions during the freedom struggle, citing founder Dr. K.B. Hedgewar’s participation in the Dandi March of 1930, his imprisonment, and the involvement of over 100 swayamsevaks jailed during Satyagraha.
Under M.S. Golwalkar’s leadership, the Sangh claimed active participation in the Quit India Movement of 1942, particularly in Vidarbha. RSS volunteers were said to have taken part in agitations alongside Congress leaders, with several members, including Hemu Kalani and Dada Naik, sentenced to death.
British intelligence reports from the period described the RSS as “anti-British volunteers ready to sacrifice their lives for the cause of the country,” according to archival references cited in the article.
The RSS has alleged that the Congress is deliberately using artificial intelligence to malign its history, accusing the party of being influenced by Communist narratives.
The row adds to the political friction between the two parties, with the Sangh insisting that fabricated propaganda cannot erase the contributions of its members during India’s independence movement.
CCTV footage from a furniture shop in Pulivalam, Tiruvarur district, has captured cadres of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) allegedly threatening and demanding money from the shop for a public meeting and secularism rally linked to party leader Thol. Thirumavalavan’s birthday celebrations.
The incident occurred on 22 August 2025 at around 4 PM, when three VCK members, including the Tiruvarur South Union Secretary and Deputy Secretary, entered Abirami & Co, a furniture shop run for the past four years by Kovil Jayabalan. The cadres reportedly demanded money for the August 24 event scheduled at Keelaveethi.
As the shop owner was out of town, a female staff member informed them of his absence. The cadres allegedly took Jayabalan’s phone number, called him directly, and demanded money, issuing threats when he declined and said he would meet them later.
According to the complaint, the cadres threatened to damage the shop, seize goods, and harm the owner, asserting dominance in the locality.
Jayabalan subsequently lodged a complaint at the Tiruvarur Taluk Police Station, submitting CCTV footage of the incident. Police have registered a case under three sections against the two named VCK functionaries.
Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has claimed that gang-based child sexual exploitation has taken place in at least 85 local authority areas across the UK, following research conducted through his independently funded Rape Gang Inquiry.
Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth and former chairman of Southampton Football Club, launched the inquiry earlier this year after the government initially declined to hold one into so-called grooming gangs. The project has since raised more than £600,000 in public donations.
The announcement comes despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirming in May that the government would conduct a national inquiry after accepting the recommendations of Baroness Louise Casey’s audit into group-based child sexual abuse.
In a statement released today, Lowe described the research as “one of the most comprehensive exposes of the rape gang scandal to date.” He said the investigation had received testimony from survivors, family members and whistleblowers, and identified “patterns of targeted exploitation by predominantly Pakistani males, combined with gross negligence from public bodies.”
According to the inquiry, cases have been identified across the country, from Aberdeen to Plymouth and from Antrim to Canterbury, with some dating back to the 1960s. Lowe said the team had gathered evidence through thousands of Freedom of Information requests, as well as interviews with victims and families, supported by specialists in safeguarding and therapy.
He added that ongoing cases have been referred to the relevant authorities and that all 85 councils named would be contacted for “full transparency and cooperation.” Hearings are expected to begin later this year, with survivors and experts invited to give evidence before a final report and recommendations are produced.
Our Rape Gang Inquiry has today released research detailing eighty-five local authorities in which the gang-based sexual exploitation of children is taking place, or has historically done so.
This is one of the most comprehensive exposes of the rape gang scandal to date. pic.twitter.com/lRRRaQeuFN
Lowe, who was suspended from the Reform UK party in March amid a bullying row, said the findings underscored the need for urgent government action. He accused Labour of inaction since pledging a national inquiry, claiming that “hundreds of thousands of lives have been ruined” and warning against “broken promises” to survivors.
The government has yet to comment on the latest claims from the independent inquiry.
Senior BJP leader and National Executive Committee Member H. Raja has sharply criticized the DMK-led government, calling it anarchic, following a reported assault involving a local DMK councillor’s family in Karur district. The incident arose after a resident questioned the prolonged lack of water supply in the area.
Taking to his official X account, H Raja condemned the situation, stating, “Dravidian Model Government’s Anarchy…!! When a resident called the 15th Ward Councillor in Karur to question that for past 12 days there has been no drinking water, the DMK Councillor has attacked the person who questioned over the phone, creating chaos..!! The police should arrest the councilor who threatened, attacked, and engaged in violence against the public and take action.”
திராவிட மாடல் ஆட்சியின் அராஜகம்..!!
12 நாட்களாக குடி தண்ணீர் வரவில்லை நடவடிக்கை எடுங்கள் என்று கரூரில் 15 வது வார்டு கவுன்சிலருக்கு அலைபேசியில் அழைத்து அப்பகுதியை சேர்ந்த ஒருவர் கேள்வி கேட்டதற்கு திமுகவை சேர்ந்த கவுன்சிலர் அலைபேசியில் அழைத்து கேள்வி கேட்டவர் மீது தாக்குதல்… pic.twitter.com/Lodh21749X
The controversy stems from a complaint filed by Chitra, a 61-year-old resident of Pugazhur in Karur district. She has submitted a petition to the District Collector seeking legal action against those involved in the alleged assault on her husband, Ravi (65), who is currently undergoing treatment at Karur Government Medical College Hospital.
According to Chitra’s statement, she and her husband approached Ward 15 councillor Sabina at the Pugazhur Sugar Mill Junction around 7 PM to raise concerns about the ongoing drinking water shortage. During the exchange, Sabina’s husband, Navas Khan who is also the DMK Minority Wing District Organizer allegedly confronted them aggressively. The situation escalated, leading to Ravi being struck in the chest and collapsing. Chitra claims that others who attempted to intervene were also assaulted.
Following the altercation, Ravi was hospitalized, and Chitra has urged authorities to take immediate action against those responsible. She later fainted within the Collectorate premises after submitting her complaint and was subsequently admitted to the same hospital for treatment.
In response to the allegations, Navas Khan denied any physical assault. He claimed that while there was a verbal disagreement over the water issue, no violence occurred. “I explained the situation calmly. There was only a heated exchange, not an attack. The CCTV footage will prove this,” he said.
The incident has triggered political outrage, with H. Raja demanding immediate police intervention and arrest of the individuals involved. The situation continues to draw attention as both sides maintain conflicting versions of the events.
On 26 August 2025, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court invalidated a series of Government Orders that had sanctioned the construction of wedding halls using surplus funds from temples across various regions.
Earlier, during the state Budget session, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister P.K. Sekarbabu had informed the Assembly of a proposal to allocate ₹80 crore from the excess funds of 27 temples for the purpose of building community wedding halls. These venues were intended to be rented out for public use.
However, a Division Bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and G. Arul Murugan found the initiative to be inconsistent with the fundamental principles of Hindu charitable traditions. The court observed that the plan lacked a charitable component and, as such, could not be considered a “religious purpose” under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. Consequently, the Government Orders lost their legal standing.
The judges emphasized that temple assets both monetary and property are offered by devotees with religious intent and must be utilized strictly for temple-related needs such as maintenance, spiritual activities, and development.
The bench said, “It is unambiguous that the role of the Government in controlling the affairs of the Hindu temples across the State of Tamil Nadu under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act is limited only to prevent, abuse, misutilization or misappropriation of temple funds and its properties. It is the duty of the Government to ensure that temple funds are utilized only for religious purposes as intended by the donors/devotees and under the provisions of the Act and Rules framed thereunder.”
The government, the court held, has no legal authority to divert these resources toward secular or commercial projects.
The Bench underscored that such funds are considered the legal property of the presiding deity of the temple. In legal terms, deities are regarded as minors, and it is the responsibility of the judiciary to act as the guardian of their interests. Thus, the court deemed it essential to protect temple resources from being misappropriated.
In its ruling, the court declared that constructing wedding halls for rent does not fulfill any religious or spiritual objective. As a result, the initiative was found to be in violation of the HR&CE Act and its associated regulations.
The Hon'ble Division Bench of Hon. Justice Shri S M Subramaniam and Hon. Justice Shri Arul Murugan in Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) has quashed 5 Government Orders issued by Tamil Nadu Govt approving construction of commercial Wedding Halls using Temple lands and funds.… pic.twitter.com/TuANj3WwxD
Based on these findings, the court accepted the group of petitions challenging the government’s decision and officially struck down the related Government Orders.
On 27 August 2025, police in Kerala registered a case against a school teacher accused of discouraging Muslim students from taking part in Onam celebrations. The incident took place at Sirajul Uloom English High School in Kadavallur, Thrissur.
The teacher, identified as Khadija, reportedly sent a voice message to parents advising them to prevent their children from participating in Onam, describing it as a festival belonging to another religion. In the recording, she emphasized that Muslims should follow Islamic principles and avoid engaging in what she described as polytheistic rituals.
She stated, “We should live according to the tenets of Islam. Celebrating Onam goes against our beliefs, and neither we nor our children should be involved. Participating in the customs of other religions could amount to ‘shirk’ (a serious sin in Islam).”
Khadija also remarked that young children must be raised in a strictly Islamic environment and shielded from religious practices that do not align with their faith. “Our children are still impressionable, and it’s important to instill in them the significance of avoiding such festivities. This year, we and our children will not be part of Onam,” she added.
Following a complaint from a member of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), police in Kunnamkulam filed a case under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relates to incitement with the intent to cause unrest.
Onam, the state festival of Kerala, is widely embraced by people of all communities, regardless of religion.
This is not the first time issues of religious sensitivity have emerged during Onam. In 2022, a video circulated on social media showed Muslim girls in hijabs dancing at a school celebration of the festival. This sparked criticism from certain Muslim organizations. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) raised objections, claiming that dancing while wearing a hijab was inappropriate and contradicted the purpose of the Islamic dress code.
Muslim cleric Dr. Kalbe Sibtain Noori also commented on the matter, saying, “If those 600 girls chose to dance of their own free will, it’s their personal choice, which is protected in a democratic society. But if the school compelled them, that would be both unconstitutional and unlawful.”
He further noted that, under Islamic law, the hijab is a symbol of modesty and respect. “Dancing while wearing a hijab in front of non-related men is strictly forbidden in Islam according to Sharia,” Dr. Noori stated.
The University of Madras has confirmed serious irregularities by the Loyola College in Chennai after the university’s Inspection Commission reported that the Jesuit institution was conducting its M.A. Philosophy programme at the off-campus Jesuit centre Satya Nilayam in Thiruvanmiyur without approval. This action follows a series of complaints submitted by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) to different constitutional bodies following The Commune’s report on the matter.
The detailed report submitted by the Madras University to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), flagged “gross violations” of affiliation rules by Loyola College, Chennai, in the conduct of its M.A. Philosophy programme.
This report from the Madras University came after the NHRC found Madras University evasive over Loyola’s illegal M.A. Philosophy course, and warned them with conditional summons.
From religious bias in admissions to flouting reservation norms and blatant non-compliance, here’s a detailed breakdown of the major violations flagged in the report.
Fake Departments And Missing Students
The inspection team discovered that Loyola’s so-called Philosophy Department is nothing more than a façade. There was no separate classroom, no faculty room, no departmental library, no signage, and—most scandalously—no students present at the time of inspection. Classes for both first and second-year students were being conducted in a common seminar hall, with no evidence of actual enrolment.
This is not just mismanagement — it is a direct violation of the Syndicate’s rules on infrastructure and affiliation, dating back to 2003.
Unqualified Faculty And Appointment Irregularities
The report exposes Loyola’s sham in faculty appointments. Many lecturers listed on the college website don’t even meet the basic UGC qualification rules. Even worse, some teachers are being counted as full-time staff at both Loyola and the Sathya Nilayam Research Institute, a clear cheat and violation of university rules. To top it off, the management hired staff—including the Principal—on its own, ignoring the mandatory university selection process. This blatant breaking of rules is nothing short of academic fraud and shows how Loyola ignores laws meant to keep education honest.
Violating Tamil Nadu Govt’s Reservation Norms
Perhaps the most serious violation is Loyola’s blatant disregard for Tamil Nadu’s reservation laws in student admissions. Despite multiple reminders, the management failed to provide the mandatory category-wise admission data for the M.A. Philosophy programme. This deliberate non-compliance undermines the Rule of Reservation, which is crucial to ensure equitable access and opportunities for marginalized communities. By both ignoring the submission of required admission data and bypassing the reservation policy, the management flagrantly violated legal and ethical standards designed to promote inclusion and fairness.
This is a violation of Government Order G.O.(D) No.110 (22.05.2024) and University Circular No.314 (24.06.2024). In short, Loyola has cheated the state’s social justice framework.
“In view of the above findings and based on the Madras University Act, 1923, and the University’s Statutes and Ordinances (2016), the University of Madras concludes that Loyola College has not complied with UGC guidelines, relevant Government Orders, and University norms in conducting the M.А. Philosophy Programme.“, the inspection report said.
Timeline Of Events
The inspection report, submitted in August 2025, follows a string of complaints filed since January alleging academic fraud, religious discrimination, and unauthorized operations at Satya Nilayam run by Loyola College. Let’s take a look at when the investigation began and how action was taken.
January 2025 – First Expose
In January 2025, The Commune published a report alleging that Loyola College was operating an unauthorized extension campus at Satya Nilayam under the guise of an M.A. Philosophy programme affiliated with the University of Madras.
The report highlighted that the programme primarily catered to Catholic seminarians and Jesuit missionaries, raising questions of religious discrimination since admissions were allegedly restricted to Christians.
Degrees issued to such students carried Loyola College’s and the University of Madras’ name, despite students never attending the approved Loyola campus.
Allegations also surfaced of financial misconduct, exorbitant fees, misuse of UGC funds, and funneling graduates into missionary activities.
YouTuber Maridhas also published a video of the investigation on his channel.
February 2025: Legal Rights Protection Forum Complaint To TN Governor
In February 2025, the Hyderabad-based Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) lodged a formal complaint with the Governor of Tamil Nadu, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Madras, seeking revocation of Loyola’s autonomous status and Madras University affiliation, investigation into Satya Nilayam’s unauthorized operations, action against alleged academic fraud and discriminatory practices.
The petition alleged that Satya Nilayam was functioning under a separate Jesuit legal entity, yet Loyola College was granting degrees in its name, thereby misleading students and regulatory authorities.
March 2025: LRPF Appeals to Jesuit Superior General & FCRA Angle Raised
In March 2025, LRPF escalated the issue internationally by petitioning Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus, urging internal Jesuit intervention. Allegations also expanded to include misuse of foreign funds under FCRA regulations, large-scale misappropriation of UGC grants, citing disclosures from former Loyola Principal Rev. Fr. Albert Muthumalai.
Evidence that Satya Nilayam’s official website was abruptly taken down after complaints, and later reappeared with all references to Loyola College scrubbed.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu, R.N. Ravi, formally intervened by directing the University of Madras to investigate, citing potential violations of university norms, secular education principles, and even national security concerns due to the presence of foreign seminarians.
Additionally, in March 2025, the Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi who also serves as the Chancellor of the University of Madras, sought an explanation from the University regarding the unauthorized operations of Loyola College’s off-campus center, ‘Satya Nilayam.’
March 2025: Loyola College Alters Website, Erases Links
Following complaints, Satya Nilayam’s website was abruptly altered to erase Loyola-University links, raising suspicions of cover-up. Despite repeated warnings, the University of Madras has failed to act decisively. The case highlights misuse of minority autonomy, systemic double standards, and demands urgent cancellation of affiliations and accountability.
March 2025: Complaint Filed With TN Governor Again
LRPF filed a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Governor against University of Madras Registrar Prof. S. Elumalai, accusing him of enabling large-scale academic fraud involving Loyola College. The complaint alleged Loyola unlawfully ran its M.A. Philosophy program at Satya Nilayam, an unapproved Jesuit centre, while issuing University of Madras degrees since 1998. It cited evidence of unauthorized off-campus operations, website manipulation, and even “lost” affiliation records. LRPF demanded cancellation of all such degrees, disciplinary action against the Registrar, and a criminal probe. Neither Loyola nor Madras University has responded.
April 2025: Complaint Filed With NHRC
LRPF petitioned the National Human Rights Commission against Loyola College, Chennai, alleging religious discrimination in its M.A. Philosophy program, affiliated with the University of Madras. The NGO stated that the course is reserved exclusively for Christian students, denying equal access to others and violating fundamental rights. This followed LRPF’s earlier complaint accusing Loyola of running the program illegally at Satya Nilayam, an unapproved Jesuit centre, while issuing Madras University degrees. Allegations include fraudulent certificates, lost affiliation records, and misuse of visas. Despite mounting pressure, Loyola and Madras University did not issue official responses.
April 2025: NHRC Steps In, Loyola Accused of Religious Discrimination
By April 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognizance of complaints that non-Christian students were being systematically denied admission to the M.A. Philosophy course.
The NHRC issued notices to the UGC and the Registrar of the University of Madras, seeking action taken reports. Complaints cited violations of Articles 15(1) and 29(2) of the Constitution of India. LRPF also accused Madras University of shielding Loyola by claiming that original affiliation orders from 1998 were “untraceable.”
Despite repeated notices, both Loyola College and the University of Madras failed to provide satisfactory explanations.
On 24 May 2025, NHRC reprimanded the Madras University Registrar and UGC for non-compliance.
On 24 July 2025, the Commission issued conditional summons to both authorities, requiring them to appear in person on 19 August 2025, unless detailed reports were submitted in advance.
August 2025: UGC Inspection
University Grants Commission (UGC) committee carried out inspections of both the Madras University and Loyola College on August 13–14, with both institutions cooperating.
On 16 August 2025, the University of Madras submitted a detailed report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) confirming serious violations by Loyola (Autonomous) College, Chennai, in the conduct of its M.A. Philosophy programme. The inspection, conducted in response to complaints, found multiple breaches of affiliation rules, UGC norms, and state government directives.
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Dharmasthala, a sacred Hindu temple town in Karnataka, is a pilgrimage centre revered by millions, feeding lakhs of devotees daily. It is dedicated to Lord Manjunatha Swamy and regarded as a spiritual and cultural stronghold of Hinduism, especially among Kannadigas. The sacred institution became the subject of a highly orchestrated and systematic campaign of defamation and attack, primarily by Leftist media. Fingers have also been pointed towards a Congress MP from Tamil Nadu alleging that he is behind the orchestrated campaign targeting the temple town.
With their web of lies now collapsing like a pack of cards, let’s trace how various players, at different points in time, worked in tandem to manufacture and push this false narrative.
The Very Beginning – Sameer MD’s AI Video
It all began when a sanitary worker with a mask over his face came to the police with a few lawyers claiming he buried several 100s of girls and women who were allegedly sexually assaulted, burned with acid, and murdered over 2 decades.
Sameer MD, a fairly unknown YouTuber, came up with an AI-generated video of the allegations. The masked man who he refers to as Bheema is the central character and based the entire video as if the allegations were “absolute truth”.
Police said the video, circulated on YouTube, contained fabricated content, not present in official complaints or court records, and could incite public unrest. Sameer has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including giving false information and fabricating evidence.
This video centers on the allegations made by the masked man who alleges he was forced to secretly bury – Sameer went on to state that “over 1,000 bodies were buried on the orders of his supervisors”, with the complicity of local police paid off by the temple’s management. The video claims most victims were women and underage girls who were raped and murdered, their bodies found in temple lodges.
Screenshot from Sameer’s videoScreenshot from Sameer’s video
A specific, graphic allegation is made regarding the disposal of the body of Soujanya, a previous rape and murder case victim, and the mysterious death of a key witness, Ravi Poojari.
Screenshot from Sameer’s video
He claimed these burials were done with police connivance.
Screenshot from Sameer’s video
The video is presented not as an allegation but as established fact, using highly emotional and provocative language (e.g., “Shiva Tandava,” “final war”). It directly accuses the temple head, Veerendra Heggade, and his family of being behind a vast criminal conspiracy of murder and cover-up.
Sameer narrates the entire “story” as if he had seen it happen in front of his eyes. Too many unverified claims, too many lies, and a cinematic and concocted story – this is basically what the video is all about. The language is deliberately inflammatory, designed to provoke outrage. He also calls for street protests saying, “You have to come to the streets and protest against this injustice. Everyone should raise their voice and if any scoundrel comes in between and tries to create Hindu-Muslim divide, beat that son of b**** with slippers.”
It is noteworthy that Sameer had his claim to fame when he posted a similar video about the Sowjanya murder case a few months prior. He was booked for that video which the Karnataka High Court ordered to be removed.
The News Minute’s Over The Top “Coverage”
The News Minute abandoned all journalistic principles of neutrality and verification to actively promote an unverified, sensationalist narrative. They published over 20+ reports in a short period, treating the masked accuser’s extraordinary claims as established fact without demanding credible evidence. Their reporters, including Pooja Prasanna and Shivani Kava, used leading questions, dismissed plausible explanations from local authorities, and framed procedural caution by police as proof of a cover-up.
They strategically conflated the new allegations with decades-old, unrelated tragedies to create a false pattern and emotionally manipulate their audience. TNM’s interviews, particularly with the accuser’s lawyer, served to amplify the conspiracy theory while shifting the burden of proof onto the temple management. They weaponized legal gag orders, portraying them not as a complex legal matter but as definitive proof of guilt.
When partial skeletal remains were found, TNM immediately declared it a “major breakthrough” validating the entire narrative, despite the remains later being proven to belong to males who died long before the alleged events, completely contradicting the core accusation. Throughout, they solicited public donations to fund what was essentially a propaganda campaign, presenting advocacy as “independent journalism.” This entire effort has now collapsed after the accuser and key “witnesses” confessed to lying, exposing TNM’s reporting as a reckless and agenda-driven attempt to defame a revered Hindu institution.
Tamil YouTubers Show Their Loyalty To Anti-Hindu Cause
Several Tamil YouTubers played a central role in amplifying unverified claims, turning the issue into a spectacle of conspiracy and sensationalism. Channels such as Maayam Studios, Nakkheeran, Damodaran Prakash, Jeeva Today, Roots Tamil, Edison Vlogs, News I Tamil, Yoot Evidence, Ask Raghulan, Saravanan Decodes, Paari Saalan, and Sha Boo Three pushed narratives that blurred the line between speculation and fact.
Most of these creators presented the whistleblower’s allegations of mass burials and sexual violence as established truth, despite the absence of forensic or judicial confirmation. They routinely recycled decades-old, unrelated cases and wove them into sweeping conspiracy theories implicating the Dharmasthala temple administration, politicians, and police in systemic abuse and cover-ups. Graphic descriptions, exaggerated numbers, and horror-style presentation were used to provoke outrage, attract views, and monetize tragedy.
Some channels, such as News I Tamil and Saravanan Decodes, went further by violating gag orders and directly accusing individuals, thus crossing into defamation and contempt of court. Others, like Roots Tamil and Paari Saalan, injected political and communal undertones, portraying the issue as a Hindu institutional conspiracy tied to BJP and RSS, thereby polarizing the discourse. Meanwhile, influencers like Edison Vlogs and Ask Raghulan openly indulged in reckless sensationalism, even hinting at vigilante justice.
Other Indian Media & Fake News Experts Join The Bandwagon
Some mainstream news channels like Times Now and other YouTubers across the country joined the content creation spree by amplifying baseless claims.
Times Now Amplified False Claims
When the allegations came to light, Times Now also participated in the chaos to report from the site of the burials, showing the skull and what not. They had already named the case “Dharmasthala Secret Files”.
Dharmasthala ‘Secret’ Files
‘I was coerced into secretly disposing off multiple dead bodies…’- Former sanitation worker in K’taka’s Dharmasthala makes a sensational claim.
This Malayalam news channel which is heavily leftist in its reporting carried a malicious campaign against the Dharmasthala temple and administration. Here is a look at the extent of their coverage.
Kerala-based MediaOne
Media One, ran a show where panelists
claimed since accusation is against powerful people and are
close to power so investigation is not being held properly.
Newslaundry
Piggybacking on TNM’s reports, Newslaundry also maligned Dharmasthala temple and the administration. They followed TNM’s lead to connect all the deaths in the town to the mass burial case.
Manisha Pandey of Newslaundry cast
aspersions on Dharmasthala Administration Head
Veerendra Hegde for seeking a legal injunction to take
down content related to a case that is still under
investigation. She praised The News Minute for its
reporting on the Dharmasthala case.
Just watch how Manisha Pandey of NewsLaundry spreads innuendos and insinuations against Dharmasthala Administration Head Veerendra Hegde for pursuing a legal injunction to remove all content about a case THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION!
Mohammed Zubair amplified the Dharmasthala controversy by sharing and praising media reports, particularly from The News Minute, which portrayed Hindu institutions negatively. He used their coverage to bolster his own narrative, framing the temple and associated individuals as engaged in wrongdoing. However, once the SIT found no evidence and the whistleblower was arrested, Zubair quietly deleted his celebratory tweet without issuing any clarification, apology, or acknowledgment of error. He plainly used the strategy of aggressively highlighting alleged Hindu misdeeds while retreating silently when the claims are disproven, avoiding accountability and displaying selective engagement with similar incidents involving other communities.
SR Pay
The YouTube channel SR Pay pushed a
fake narrative about Dharmasthala temple, presenting the
masked man’s story and claims as if they were fully verified.
The video framed it as though a massive scandal was
unfolding inside the temple. As of today, this video has 1.4 million views.
Apart from the ones shared by Sameer MD, a few other Kannada and Hindi YouTube channels also did their “bit” to malign the institution. Here is an example.
Study IQ IAS
Study IQ IAS YouTube channel also made an elaborate video on the issue, but it was all nonsense that was propagated. This video is now private.
Look at how Study IQ IAS (19.9 million subscribers!!) covered the Dharmasthala Incident!
Quoting from the Description Section of the Video:
"In this gripping investigation, Varun Jauhari uncovers the chilling truth behind the Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case, where 400 women… pic.twitter.com/9fxp89Zgp2
This channel shared a video titled “Who Is Behind Dharmasthala’s Dark Truth? | Sowjanya, Ananya and 1000 Other Bodies.” In the video, he also calls Dharamsthala a hub of political power and makes some more baseless claims.
SDPI & CPI Demand SIT Probe
The SDPI entered the Dharmasthala case by demanding a high court monitored SIT probe into claims by a former sanitation worker that he buried sexual assault victims’ bodies for over a decade. At a press conference, SDPI state president Abdul Majid accused Belthangady police of negligence, citing unsolved rapes, murders, and disappearances, and called for suspension of local officers. He demanded compensation and protection for families, as well as a public hearing for victims’ relatives. SDPI also announced a statewide agitation to mobilize support and pressure the government to act on the allegations.
CPI Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hand over the Dharmasthala burials case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In his letter, he alleged a decades-long pattern of crimes in Dharmasthala targeting women, silenced through coercion, and concealed with impunity citing cases from 1979 to Soujanya’s 2012 murder. He said successive governments failed to ensure credible probes, with SITs and review committees never properly constituted. Highlighting intimidation of activists and families seeking justice, he argued that only an NIA probe could ensure truth and accountability, while safeguarding the spiritual sanctity of Dharmasthala.
SIT Formed Under Pressure, Not Evidence
The very formation of the SIT to probe into Dharmasthala “mass burial” allegations reveal how politics, not proof, set the agenda. Congress minister Dinesh Gundu Rao openly conceded that the Special Investigation Team was created not on the strength of credible evidence, but because of sustained agitation from Left-leaning activists. His admission laid bare that the SIT itself was a political concession rather than a fact-driven necessity.
Key agitators “activists” and other political parties were central in manufacturing this pressure. Some activists used the tragic Soujanya case as a rallying cry; they continually linked the incident to Dharmasthala and its Dharmadhikari, Dr. Veerendra Heggade, without presenting any substantiating proof. Instead of allowing the legal process to run its course, they sought to turn public anger into a weapon, feeding suspicion and hostility toward the temple administration.
Seen in this light, the SIT was never about fact-finding. It was about appeasing those intent on tarnishing a sacred Hindu institution. What emerged was not justice, but an agenda to weaken Hindu centers of worship under the convenient banner of “activism.”
Masked Man’s Lawyer Asks Kerala Govt To Intervene
Supreme Court advocate KV Dhananjay on 17 July 2025 urged the Kerala government to pass a resolution in the Assembly seeking a high-standard probe into the Dharmasthala mass burials case. He suggested that Kerala Police be allowed to assist, which would require the state to approach the Supreme Court.
His appeal followed a complaint submitted to him by the whistleblower, including identity documents linked to Dharmasthala, to ensure the truth was preserved if anything happened to him.
He used The News Minute as a platform to shift the burden of proof onto the state, insisting that unless police “dig and disprove,” the whistleblower’s allegations must be accepted as truth. Dhananjay claimed the witness, born into a marginalized caste, was motivated by guilt and fear of God. He suggested “powerful people” were obstructing the probe and speculated that bodies could be moved during delays. Presenting these claims as prima facie true, he insisted they warranted serious investigation despite lacking corroborating evidence.
International Media Roped In
Joining the propaganda bandwagon was Al Jazeera and BBC – this came at a time when the leftists and other conspirators did not get the desired reaction from the public.
Al Jazeera
The Qatari government-funded propaganda outlet that is known for peddling anti-Hindu and anti-India narratives made even worse allegations than TNM and other leftist media. They first published an article on 22 July 2025, then went on to publish a video.
The video published on 25 July 2025 starts by framing the issue as “one of the worst serial killings in history.”
Then they shift to the “whistleblower” and identify him as “Dalit”, then they go on to say, “According to Hinduism’s caste system, the Dalits are at the bottom. They’re considered unpure and are often persecuted in India. As per tradition, temple administrators are from a higher caste.”
BBC – Tamil & Kannada
BBC’s video was in Kannada and they even interviewed Sujatha Bhat who recanted her statement saying she did not have a daughter, but she keeps making u-turns. BBC Kannada published the below video on 1 August 2025.
They published the Telugu version on the same date.
They published the same video in Tamil also, but 10 days later – on 10 August 2025.
The Diplomat, an international current affairs magazine for the APAC region joined the “coverage on 11 August 2025 without any verification of facts.
Relying purely on sensationalism, The Diplomat, like its peers furthered the leftist narrative to tarnish the temple and administration.
People.com
American weekly magazine People.com repeated the unverified claims of
the masked man about Dharmasthala temple with an article on 25 July 2025. Citing Al Jazeera, DW, and India Today, the report added graphic descriptions of corpses, threats, and killings while presenting the temple as
the center of horrific crimes. The article amplified the
allegations without balancing them with the SIT’s findings
or the temple’s stance, casting the institution in a deeply
negative light.
DW
German media house DW published an article on 28 July 2025 framing the Dharmasthala temple as the site of a horrific scandal. It amplified the claims of the masked man.
ABC News
Australian news outlet ABC News published an article on 17 August 2025 repeating the same lies.
“Activists” Thimarodi and Mattennavar’s Role In Defaming The Dharmadhikari
Amplifying this propaganda were “activists” Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi and Girish Mattennavar, campaigning under the Justice for Sowjanya banner, pressed for an SIT, gave legitimacy to the masked man’s allegations.
However, a series of leaked WhatsApp messages and sting recordings have revealed that self-styled activists involved in the Justice for Sowjanya campaign were openly plotting to target Dharmadhikari Dr. Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala. In one video, activist Somnath Nayak’s Civil Service Trust admitted that Heggade was their “target,” stating that they had already sent him a 210-page compilation of documents and court papers and demanded a press conference in Dharmasthala. The leaked chat makes clear that their campaign was not about establishing facts, but about ensuring that Heggade was forced to “bow to the law” and even “go to jail.” They expressed support for agitators like Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi and suggested using public sentiment, particularly the Soujanya case, to corner the temple administration.
The sting further exposed contradictions: while they admitted Heggade had no direct role in Soujanya’s murder, they insisted he tried to shield the accused, framing him as complicit. They also discussed selectively releasing interviews and videos to build a hostile narrative, admitting that their ultimate strategy was to exploit public emotions against Dharmasthala.
In another video, journalist Rakesh Shetty highlighted how these activists repeatedly shifted versions of events, named and dropped people inconsistently, and relied on speculation and cinematic exaggeration rather than evidence. He compared their tactics to a “KGF-style fairy tale,” pointing out how accusations kept changing and no cross-examination was ever allowed.
Political Conspiracy – Claimed By Dy CM DK Shivakumar
On 14 August 2025, the Karnataka government, through Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, announced it will take strict legal action against individuals responsible for spreading false propaganda and misinformation about the Dharmasthala pilgrimage centre in an alleged mass grave case. Shivakumar emphasized the government’s commitment to the rule of law and stated that no one will be protected from prosecution for making false allegations and defaming the revered religious institution.
Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil Allegedly Involved
On 19 August 2025, as per a Free Press Journal report, Congress MP from Tamil Nadu and former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil was alleged to be the key conspirator. BJP MLA from Udupi, Yashpal Suvarna, and Independent MLA from Gangavati, G. Janardhan Reddy, have squarely blamed Senthil, who once served as Mangaluru DC, for allegedly orchestrating a plot to tarnish the Dharmasthala Temple’s reputation. Earlier, Belthangadi BJP MLA Harish Punja had also hinted at Senthil’s possible involvement, accusing him of leveraging the leftist and Islamist networks he had cultivated during his administrative tenure.
The two legislators minced no words in their charge: the so-called “masked man” who claimed to have unearthed a skull and handed it over to police was allegedly acting at Senthil’s behest, with the entire drama scripted in Tamil Nadu after Senthil quit the IAS.
How The Lies Fell Apart
The former sanitation worker, whose July 3 testimony before a magistrate ignited a national firestorm, has now provided a detailed confession to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He stated that a gang approached him in Chennai in December 2023.
“They asked me how many bodies I had buried when I worked in Dharmasthala. I told them the truth: that I had legally buried the bodies of pilgrims who came for salvation, through the police and gram panchayat,” the masked man stated. “But the gang insisted that I should say that the bodies were buried illegally. They pressured me… they changed my mind.”
The complainant revealed that the gang brought him to Karnataka, trained him on what to say in court, and even provided him with the skull and bone fragments he submitted as evidence which forensic reports later confirmed belonged to a man who died 30 years ago. He further confessed that he was instructed to coordinate his false testimony with another complainant, Sujatha Bhat, who had filed a missing person report for her daughter.
The SIT has since confirmed that the skull and bone fragments were of men who had died decades earlier, undermining the complainant’s earlier claims. Excavations at 17 sites identified by him yielded no evidence of mass graves. At one site, partial skeletal remains were found but were confirmed to be male, dating back 30 years.
Sujatha Bhat also recanted her statement saying Ananya Bhat was not her daughter. She admitted she was lying but later said it was out of coercion.
The masked man was identified as Chinnaiah and was arrested by the police for perjury.
Questions None Of These “Activists” Asked
None of these so-called “champions of truth”, women’s safety crusaders, asked the questions that should have been asked in the first place. While the case has crumbled into dust, these questions should have been asked when the masked man made his first appearance.
Why did the masked man contact the lawyers in July 2025? What happened to him all these years?
Why did he bring pictures of the skull/remains instead of the original?
How did he manage to bury them in such difficult terrain when the excavators were finding it difficult to dig in the mountains?
How did he manage to dig deep pits all by himself when the excavators dug massive pits?
How did he manage to get the Supreme Court lawyers’ contacts?
How was he able to repeatedly transport and bury bodies in a busy pilgrimage town without ever being seen by pilgrims, other staff, or security?
How did he physically transport a body to these remote, difficult terrain sites seen, often alone?
He claims to have kept a skull as evidence. Why that one? What made that victim different?
How did the families not notice? How was there no outcry or investigation into such a massive number of disappearances?
But everyone took his statement as established facts and pushed the narrative against the institution.
Truth Always Wins
After running such a malicious campaign against a revered pilgrimage site of the Hindus, the leftists and the evil forces behind this entire conspiracy stand exposed.
Despite such a concerted attack, truth prevailed. The skull submitted as “evidence” turned out to be that of a male who died decades ago. The burial sites yielded no proof. The “whistleblower” confessed to being coached by a gang from Chennai. Sujatha Bhat admitted she lied. The house of cards built on lies, donations-driven activism, and sensationalist reporting has crumbled. The failure of this campaign reaffirms that Dharma cannot be defeated by propaganda.
Will the Karnataka government take strict action as promised against the conspirators and the able assistants in the form of TNM, YouTubers, other media houses?
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