dharmasthala Archives - The Commune https://thecommunemag.com/tag/dharmasthala/ Mainstreaming Alternate Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:18:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://thecommunemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-TC_SF-1-32x32.jpg dharmasthala Archives - The Commune https://thecommunemag.com/tag/dharmasthala/ 32 32 Dharmasthala ‘Mass Burial’ Case Was Fabricated Conspiracy, SIT Tells Karnataka Court; TNM’s Propaganda Completely Shattered https://thecommunemag.com/dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-was-fabricated-conspiracy-sit-tells-karnataka-court/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:46:48 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=135423 The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has informed the Beltangady court that the alleged Dharmasthala mass burial case was a fabricated conspiracy orchestrated by anti-Dharmasthala activists. The findings were submitted in a preliminary report, in which the SIT stated that Dharmasthala authorities have received a clean chit based on the evidence examined so far. The SIT […]

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has informed the Beltangady court that the alleged Dharmasthala mass burial case was a fabricated conspiracy orchestrated by anti-Dharmasthala activists. The findings were submitted in a preliminary report, in which the SIT stated that Dharmasthala authorities have received a clean chit based on the evidence examined so far.

The SIT has sought additional time to complete the investigation and file its final report.

Six Accused Named In The Case

The SIT’s preliminary report names six accused individuals:

  • A1: Chinnayya
  • Mahesh Shetty Thimarody
  • Girish Mattennavar
  • Jayanth
  • Vitthal Gowda
  • Sujatha Bhatt

Investigators stated that A1, Chinnayya, was allegedly paid, pressured, and coached to make false statements. The SIT said a false narrative of “mass burials” was constructed to target Dharmasthala, with the accused allegedly procuring a skull, staging evidence, and recording coached video statements to support the claim.

Conspiracy Meetings, Evidence Trails Recovered

According to the SIT, conspiracy meetings were held at the residence of accused Mahesh Shetty Thimarody. Investigators reported recovering video clips, bank transaction trails, electronic data, and witness statements – All of which, the SIT said, support the conclusion that the mass burial allegations were fabricated and part of a coordinated conspiracy.

SIT Seeks Permission To Arrest Five Accused

The SIT has sought the court’s permission to arrest five of the accused. If approval is granted, arrests are expected to take place immediately. The agency is preparing for custodial interrogation ahead of submitting its final report.

TNM Propaganda Shattered To Bits

The leftist “news portal” The News Minute finds its propaganda completely shattered to bits and has not yet apologised to the public or to the institution for carrying reports that was based entirely out of lies. TNM manufactured and amplified the “mass burial” lies and it stands exposed as a politically motivated smear against a revered Hindu institution. TNM published over two dozen reports this year, aggressively platforming an unverified “masked man” whose sensational claims were treated as gospel while basic journalistic scrutiny was abandoned.

Their videos, ‘ground’ reports, and podcasts framed speculation as fact, linked unrelated past tragedies to imply a pattern, and repeatedly undermined official explanations from the Panchayat. Reporters presented routine procedures for unclaimed bodies as sinister, avoided questioning the logistical impossibility of the allegations, and cast every legal restraint as evidence of a cover-up.

TNM’s coverage functioned less as reporting and more as ideological propaganda aimed at tarnishing a sacred Hindu institution. The facts have now buried the fiction.

Source: India Today

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SIT Files 3,900-Page Chargesheet Against ‘Mask Man’ Chinnaiah, Mahesh Thimarody, Girish Mattennavar, Sujatha Bhat & Others In Dharmasthala Case https://thecommunemag.com/sit-files-3900-page-chargesheet-against-mask-man-chinnaiah-mahesh-thimarody-girish-mattennavar-sujatha-bhat-others-in-dharmasthala-case/ Fri, 21 Nov 2025 05:00:56 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=134360 In a significant development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case has filed a comprehensive 3,900-page chargesheet against six individuals, including the original complainant, for allegedly fabricating evidence and forging documents to support false claims of multiple burials. The chargesheet was presented before the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC CH Vijayendra in Belthangady […]

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In a significant development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case has filed a comprehensive 3,900-page chargesheet against six individuals, including the original complainant, for allegedly fabricating evidence and forging documents to support false claims of multiple burials.

The chargesheet was presented before the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC CH Vijayendra in Belthangady court, Dakshina Kannada, on Thursday. The accused have been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Accused and the Charges

Those named in the chargesheet are:

  1. Chinnaiah, the primary complainant.
  2. Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, an activist and founder of the Rashtriya Hindu Jagarana Vedike.
  3. Girish Mattennavar, a former police officer.
  4. T Jayanth, a relative of a 1986 death case victim.
  5. Vittala Gowda, uncle of 2012 rape-murder victim Soujanya.
  6. Sujatha Bhat, who filed a separate false complaint.

The SIT has invoked a range of sections including 227 (giving false evidence), 228 (fabricating false evidence), 229, 230 (fabricating false evidence for capital offence), 231 (for life imprisonment offence), 233 (using evidence known to be false), 236 (false statement in declaration), 240 (giving false information on an offence), 248 (false charge to injure), and 336 (forgery) of the BNS.

How The Case Unravelled 

The case originated when Chinnaiah filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which the Supreme Court rejected on 5 May 2025, seeking an investigation into the ‘burial of many bodies’ in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. Undeterred, he later filed a police complaint with the same allegations.

A critical turn came when Chinnaiah gave a voluntary statement before a magistrate under Section 183 of the BNSS and produced a skull, claiming it belonged to a woman. However, the SIT’s forensic investigation debunked this claim, revealing the skull was that of a 32-year-old man.

Following this, the SIT arrested Chinnaiah for perjury on August 23. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to giving a false complaint and voluntary statement under pressure from Mahesh Shetty Thimarody and other activists.

The Conspiracy and New Revelations

According to the SIT, Chinnaiah revealed that the skull was given to him by Vittala Gowda and his brother. He subsequently gave a second voluntary statement to the court, recanting his earlier claims.

The SIT, in a writ petition filed in the High Court, stated that Chinnaiah’s revelations pointed to the complicity of the activists, with one of them even being allegedly involved in a separate murder.

The chargesheet also details the role of Sujatha Bhat, who admitted to filing a false police complaint about her MBBS-studying daughter going missing from Dharmasthala. She told the SIT she acted under pressure from Thimarody and four other activists.

Obstruction and Further Evidence

SIT officials informed the court that some of the accused individuals obstructed the inquiry when summoned. The investigation included searches at 17 locations and the collection of statements from those in contact with Chinnaiah, pointing to a wider conspiracy.

The SIT’s report traces the journey of the skull, alleging that Vittala Gowda retrieved it from Bangalagudda in February 2024 and recorded the act on video, which was then passed to Mattennavar.

In follow-up excavations at Bangalagudda hill, the SIT recovered eight more skulls and additional skeletal remains, which have been sent for forensic examination. The team also found identification cards belonging to two individuals from Kodagu and Tumakuru at the site.

The SIT has stated that a supplementary chargesheet will be filed after receiving pending scientific reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory and other related documents. The court is now set to examine the voluminous chargesheet and take cognizance of the offences.

(Source: The Hindu)

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RSF Nominates Leftist-Dravidianist Narrative Peddler Dhanya Rajendran For “Impact Prize 2025” https://thecommunemag.com/rsf-nominates-leftist-dravidianist-narrative-peddler-dhanya-rajendran-for-impact-prize-2025/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:26:14 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=132081 Dhanya Rajendran, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute (TNM), has been nominated for the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Impact Prize of the Year 2025 from India. TNM Editor-in-Chief @dhanyarajendran nominated for RSF’s global press freedom awardhttps://t.co/kkSapS0YBA — TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) October 22, 2025 The RSF nomination recognizes Rajendran for her “full-blown fight for press freedom […]

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Dhanya Rajendran, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute (TNM), has been nominated for the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Impact Prize of the Year 2025 from India.

The RSF nomination recognizes Rajendran for her “full-blown fight for press freedom in India” and notes that “under her leadership, The News Minute has established itself as a benchmark for quality journalism.” However, this characterization stands in stark contrast to TNM’s handling of the most recent Dharmasthala story, which many media watchdogs have criticized as activist journalism masquerading as objective reporting.

This ‘award’ comes even as serious questions persist about her outlet’s controversial coverage of the Dharmasthala “mass burial” case that collapsed due to lack of evidence.

And it was not just that, Dhanya and her TNM unit have almost always peddled the leftist-Dravidianist narrative showing their loyalty to their paymasters.

Let’s just take a look at the most recent ‘reportage’ or rather the ‘pièce de résistance’ of Dhanya Rajendran – The Dharmasthala Lie

The Dharmasthala Debacle: A Case Study in Questionable Journalism

TNM’s coverage of the Dharmasthala allegations exposed fundamental flaws in the outlet’s editorial approach. The portal treated the extraordinary claims of a single “masked man”, who alleged he had buried hundreds of murder victims over two decades, as established fact rather than allegations requiring rigorous verification.

Throughout July and August 2025, TNM ran over two dozen stories, videos, and podcasts amplifying the unproven allegations. Reporter Pooja Prasanna’s “explainer” videos systematically shifted the discussion from “if” the mass burials occurred to “how” they happened, presupposing the temple management’s guilt while ignoring basic journalistic questions about the logistical impossibility of such crimes occurring undetected in one of Karnataka’s busiest pilgrimage centers.

The portal’s methodology consistently favored speculation over evidence. TNM strategically linked the unproven allegations to decades-old, unrelated tragedies, creating a false pattern through guilt by association. During interviews with local officials, reporters badgered the Gram Panchayat Vice President for documents he didn’t possess while failing to apply similar scrutiny to the masked man’s ever-changing story.

The Narrative Collapses

The entire narrative unraveled when forensic evidence revealed that the skeletal remains, which TNM had triumphantly declared as the “soil speaking up” belonged to men who had died decades before the alleged crimes. The masked man later confessed to being coached by a gang in Chennai, while key “witnesses” admitted to lying. Throughout this unravelling, TNM maintained conspicuous silence about their role in amplifying a fabricated story that damaged the reputation of a revered religious institution.

Award Nomination Raises Eyebrows

The RSF nomination has sparked criticism from media observers who question the timing and message of honoring an editor whose outlet recently promoted what proved to be a completely baseless story. Critics argue that the Dharmasthala coverage demonstrates how activist journalism can harm public discourse and damage innocent institutions.

RSF’s recognition comes despite TNM’s failure to issue corrections or acknowledge their flawed reporting methodology in the Dharmasthala case. The organization noted that Rajendran “and her team have been repeatedly subjected to lawsuits and are harassed online because of their work,” but made no mention of the legitimate criticism regarding their factual inaccuracies.

The Press Freedom Awards ceremony will be held on 15 November 2025, in Paris, where Rajendran will be considered alongside nominees from Palestine, Chile, Syria, and Vietnam. So one wonders whether Dhanya is being considered for the ‘award’ for the narrative setting and ‘impact’ it created rather than actual truthful journalism.

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Pastor And Rowdy Among Fake Human Rights Team That Tried To Defame Dharmasthala: Police Report https://thecommunemag.com/pastor-and-rowdy-among-fake-human-rights-team-that-tried-to-defame-dharmasthala-police-report/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:45:55 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=130840 A detailed report submitted by the Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada District, has uncovered a major racket involving individuals falsely posing as Human Rights Commission officers to interfere in matters related to the Dharmasthala temple. The investigation, forwarded to the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, exposes how impostors, including a pastor John Simon from Bengaluru […]

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A detailed report submitted by the Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada District, has uncovered a major racket involving individuals falsely posing as Human Rights Commission officers to interfere in matters related to the Dharmasthala temple. The investigation, forwarded to the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, exposes how impostors, including a pastor John Simon from Bengaluru and a rowdy Madan Bugudi from Hubballi, misused the name of the commission to intimidate officials and spread misinformation about the revered Hindu shrine, Dharmasthala.

Complaint And False Representation

The chain of events began after the Kannada daily Kannadaprabha published a report on 26 August 2025 titled:
“Rowdy sheeter among fake Human Rights Commission officers who came to the police station with Girish Mattanna.”

Acting on the report, the Human Rights Commission initiated a suo motu complaint under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The matter was referred to the Belthangady Police for a detailed probe.

During the inquiry, officers found that when activist Mahesh Shetty Timarodi visited the Belthangady Police Station accompanied by Girish Mattannavar, several others joined them. Among these individuals was Madan Bugudi, who appeared in formal attire and falsely introduced himself as an officer of the Human Rights Commission. Upon verification, police confirmed that no such position was ever held by Bugudi. Instead, he was identified as a notorious rowdy-sheeter from Hubballi, previously paraded publicly by the Hubballi Police Commissioner during a roll call of known offenders.

Pastor John Simon And The Fake Human Rights Network

Further investigation revealed the involvement of another impersonator, John Simon, who also claimed to represent the Human Rights Commission.

According to the report, Simon had been operating in Bengaluru using counterfeit human rights credentials to threaten police officers and extort money under the pretext of providing “protection.” Police discovered that Simon runs a private church in Doddaballapura, where he acts as pastor, and has registered an NGO named “Human Rights Anti-Corruption Social Justice Commission.”

Investigators found that Simon approached citizens claiming he could “help if police tortured them,” thereby creating a network of extortion and manipulation. Several public complaints have since been filed, demanding that stringent criminal action be taken against him.

The report describes John Simon as a self-styled Christian pastor who “has brazenly misused the guise of human rights to manipulate citizens and challenge governmental authority in broad daylight.” Despite operating openly under fake credentials, “it took an inordinate delay for authorities to initiate action against him.”

Shocking news

A formal complaint from Praveen K.R., son of Ram Gudigar and resident of Kattadabailu Mane, Dharmasthala village, Belthangady taluk, has now been forwarded to the Belthangady Police Inspector for further legal action.

Attempt To Defame Dharmasthala Temple

On 30 August 2025, Girish Mattannavar and Madan Bugudi visited the Belthangady Police Station again and held a media interaction, claiming to be devotees of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.

The police report clarifies that their real motive was to create unrest, disrupt communal harmony, and tarnish the temple’s religious reputation. By introducing himself to reporters as a human rights officer, Bugudi misled the media and damaged the credibility of the official Human Rights Commission.

Police also noted that Girish Mattannavar and Mahesh Shetty Timarodi were in close coordination with bloggers and social media activists, including Mohd Sameer, to spread false and defamatory narratives against Dharmasthala temple authorities.

Legal Action And Registered Case

After gathering sufficient evidence, Belthangady Police registered Case No. 100/2025 under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, signaling the gravity of the offenses.

The invoked sections include Section 204 – destruction of evidence, Section 319(2) – impersonation of a public servant, Section 353(2) – obstruction of lawful duty, and Section 3(5) – aggravated misuse of authority.

These charges reflect the deliberate attempt by the accused to mislead authorities, obstruct justice, and exploit state institutions for ideological and personal motives.

A progress report has already been submitted to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, confirming that the case remains under active investigation by the Dakshina Kannada Police. Authorities have vowed to treat such fraudulent use of human rights credentials with “the utmost seriousness” and prosecute offenders under the full extent of the law.

Pastor’s Alleged Involvement And Religious Manipulation

Police findings stress that John Simon is a habitual impersonator who repeatedly interferes in official investigations while exploiting the banner of human rights for “personal and ideological gain.” His role as a Christian pastor, his fake NGO registration, and his targeting of Hindu religious institutions, particularly Dharmasthala, suggest a conversion-linked motive, according to investigators.

Authorities have recommended that strict legal and administrative measures be imposed to prevent such fraudulent human rights operatives from exploiting religious or social conflicts to weaken Hindu institutions.

The report concludes that the Dharmasthala controversy was built on a “web of deceit.” Genuine devotees including Chinniah also known as the ‘masked man’ and Sujatha Bhat were allegedly scapegoated to protect a larger propaganda network run by Girish Mattannavar, Mahesh Shetty, and their associates such as Sameer Mohammad.

This group, the report states, “attempted to spread a fabricated narrative against one of Karnataka’s most revered Hindu institutions.” Initially, even some Hindu devotees were misled by their orchestrated stories, but as evidence surfaced, it became clear that the entire episode was part of a deliberate conspiracy fueled by fake human rights activists and a pastor posing as a Human Rights Commission officer.

The findings raise troubling questions:

What connection does a Christian pastor have with temple affairs? Is there a larger conversion syndicate behind the scenes? Are external elements from Kerala playing a role in spreading this propaganda against Dharmasthala?

(With inputs from Hindu Post)

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Sujatha Bhat Who Lied About ‘Missing Daughter’ Claims She Was A “Pawn” In Orchestrated Conspiracy Against Dharmasthala, Apologises https://thecommunemag.com/sujatha-bhat-claims-she-was-a-pawn-in-orchestrated-conspiracy-against-dharmasthala-apologises/ Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:50:52 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=130599 In an explosive and wide-ranging exclusive interview with Asianet Suvarna News, Sujatha Bhat, a central figure in the controversial Dharmasthala case, has come forward to claim she was used as a “pawn” by a political gang, asserting she has no connection to the ‘Burude’ gang and was misled into making false allegations. Bhat stated that […]

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In an explosive and wide-ranging exclusive interview with Asianet Suvarna News, Sujatha Bhat, a central figure in the controversial Dharmasthala case, has come forward to claim she was used as a “pawn” by a political gang, asserting she has no connection to the ‘Burude’ gang and was misled into making false allegations.

Bhat stated that her entry into the national spotlight was orchestrated by individuals including Girish Mattanna and Jayanti T, who contacted her after seeing an older YouTube interview where she discussed a property dispute. She claims they manipulated her personal grievance into a larger, fabricated narrative.

A Web Of Deception: From Delhi To The Supreme Court

Bhat detailed a sequence of events where she was allegedly manipulated. She recounted being taken to Delhi in May with no clear explanation, told only to bring clothes and her Aadhaar card. There, she was taken to the Supreme Court premises but was made to wait outside, completely unaware of the contents of the petition being filed or the purpose of her presence.

“The gang of thieves will come. Another one will come. They will put me in this pit,” Bhat stated, emphasizing her ignorance of the plans being executed around her. She identified Girish Mattanna as the primary point of contact who directed her actions, including instructing her to cry and claim that a missing daughter’s last rites should be performed as per Sanatan Dharma—a story she now says was entirely fabricated.

The Fictional Character of “Ananya Bhat”

A key revelation in the interview was the admission that “Ananya Bhat,” presented as her missing daughter, was a complete fiction. Bhat claimed this character was created by a man named Shivshankar for a YouTube channel interview a year prior, related to her property dispute. She alleged that Girish Mattanna and others later co-opted this fictional character to build their case.

She also admitted to providing an edited photo, removing Ranga Prasad from a picture to support the false narrative, an act she now regrets, stating she did not foresee the consequences.

Financial Struggles And Denial Of Monetary Motive

Forcefully denying any financial gain from her involvement, Bhat stated, “I haven’t taken a single rupee from anyone.” She revealed her current bank balance is a mere 5,000 rupees and described her previous livelihood of selling soup and juice in a park, a profession she can no longer sustain due to public notoriety.

“I was making soup… I used to work up to 500 a day,” she said, contrasting her past simple life with her current predicament where people “look at me like someone committed a murder.”

A Life Of Loneliness And A Plea For Livelihood

The interview painted a picture of a profoundly isolated individual. Bhat spoke of being abandoned by friends and the gang that used her. Following the death of her companion Ranga Prasad in January, she stated she is now “completely alone,” unsure of how she will survive.

Her final plea was not for money but for an opportunity to work and regain her dignity. “They don’t want me to bring lakhs of lakhs to you and keep it in your hand,” she said. “They are saying, ‘Give me a shop or something and I will work and eat there’.”

In another undated video clipping, she is seen saying, “I just want to say this publicly to society: it was my mistake, please forgive me. People might say in other ways that I killed someone, or I stole something, or that I took money, but I have no money with me. I am not someone who would kill anyone. I have no connection at all with that person. I have nothing to do with it in any way. This is my personal matter. Because of someone’s words, I got confused and did what I did. And for that, I bow my head in front of society and ask for forgiveness.”

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Dharmasthala Probe: SIT Unearths Bones, Soil Samples Amid Fresh Excavations https://thecommunemag.com/dharmasthala-probe-sit-unearths-bones-soil-samples-amid-fresh-excavations/ Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:53:36 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=128942 In a major development the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala murder case resumed excavations on Wednesday at Banglegudde region in Dharmasthala temple town and collected bones and soil from the suspected burial spots. A team of 50 to 60, including SIT officers, Scene Of Crime Officers (SOCO) and others are monitoring the excavation […]

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In a major development the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala murder case resumed excavations on Wednesday at Banglegudde region in Dharmasthala temple town and collected bones and soil from the suspected burial spots. A team of 50 to 60, including SIT officers, Scene Of Crime Officers (SOCO) and others are monitoring the excavation work carried out by the civic workers.

The team has taken a sack of salt, five to six plastic PVC pipes, boxes and other materials to the spot. Sources confirmed that the team has found bones and some denim cloth at the new burial spots. The team has collected bones and soil samples from the spots and continued the excavation operation amid rain. The excavation work is being carried out between the 11th and 12th burial sites.

The development has assumed significance as SIT Chief Pronab Mohanty had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday and briefed him about the progress of the investigation. The excavation is being carried out based on the statement made by Vittal Gowda, a close relative of Soujanya, who was allegedly kidnapped, gang raped and killed in Dharmasthala. Vittal Gowda had claimed that he had seen a pile of bones of children and bodies being buried in Dharmasthala.

The SIT has launched excavation operations in this background. Meanwhile, activists approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday, calling for urgent judicial oversight in the case. The Supreme Court has been urged to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala, after disturbing revelations were made by sanitation worker C.N. Chinnayya, known as ‘mask man’, who reported decades-long secret burials linked to alleged crimes and sexual assaults.

Advocate Rohit Pandey has formally appealed to the Chief Justice of India to place the SIT under the supervision of a Retired Supreme Court Judge for transparent and independent investigation and ensure immediate exhumation and forensic examination of all visible remains at Banglegudde and other identified sites under judicial oversight.

The petition stated, “On July 3, 2025, Chinnayya’s formal complaint and sworn affidavit triggered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, leading to exhumations and the recovery of human remains and victims’ belongings substantiating grave allegations. “The National Human Rights Commission visited Dharmasthala in August, corroborating witness threats and intimidation faced by Chinnayya and his family.

“Despite consistent testimonies from villagers and public admissions by a Senior Karnataka Cabinet Minister on September 13, confirming the magnitude of mass burials as resembling a “battlefield,” subsequent SIT efforts face obstruction due to high-level pressure, risking suppression of further exhumations.” Lawyers representing victims now report harassment and intimidation by local police, threatening justice and the independence of legal counsel.

Witnesses and families are under severe threat, raising concerns about a breakdown in rule of law in Karnataka, the petition alleged. Meanwhile, Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, one of the activists raising his voice against temple authorities has formally submitted a detailed complaint to the National Human Rights Commission alleging “systematic police harassment, abuse of power, and malicious criminal prosecution aimed at silencing my voice and dismantling citizen-led movements.”

-IANS

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‘No Necessity To Transfer Case To NIA,’ Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara On Dharmasthala Probe https://thecommunemag.com/no-necessity-to-transfer-case-to-nia-karnataka-home-minister-parameshwara-on-dharmasthala-probe/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:25:13 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=127018 Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that the state government will not hand over the alleged Dharmasthala mass murders case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He, however, clarified that if the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiates its own probe into the alleged “conspiracy funding” case, the state government cannot stop it. Speaking to […]

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Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that the state government will not hand over the alleged Dharmasthala mass murders case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

He, however, clarified that if the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiates its own probe into the alleged “conspiracy funding” case, the state government cannot stop it. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, HM Parameshwara said, “The BJP is demanding an NIA probe into the case. There is no necessity to hand over the Dharmasthala case to the NIA. We have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and it is doing its job. In this background, when the SIT is already investigating, there is no need to transfer the case to another agency.”

“I have already made a statement in this regard, and the Chief Minister has also clarified it. The BJP is taking the case in a different direction every day and making this demand. There is no necessity to hand over the case to the NIA,” he reiterated.

On the issue of alleged funding to hatch a conspiracy to defame Dharmasthala, HM Parameshwara said, “Let the ED investigate funding if they want; we cannot object to it. They will probe financial and related aspects from their own angle.”

Responding to BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra’s visit to the residence of Soujanya, the minor girl who was allegedly kidnapped, gang-raped, and murdered in Dharmasthala in 2012, HM Parameshwara said, “I will stick to my stand. We have handed over the Dharmasthala murder case to the SIT. They are demanding an NIA probe, but we will not hand over the case to the NIA.”

“Until the investigation is completed, we cannot disclose any details. I have been repeating this. If the investigation is meddled with, such demands may arise. I don’t know their intentions — whether they want to obstruct the investigation. It appears so to me, because the investigation is being carried out properly and there has been no error on the part of the SIT. The question of handing over the case to another agency arises only if there is an error in the current investigation,” HM Parameshwara said.

He underlined that there has been no lapse by the SIT so far. Asked about his meeting with SIT chief Pronab Mohanty, he said, “Mohanty met me for a different reason. Mohanty meets me regarding various matters, and the SIT is one among them. As he is incharge of the Internal Security Division (ISD), he has other responsibilities as well. In that context, he comes to brief me.”

When asked about a woman’s claim that she had seen a minor girl being kidnapped in Dharmasthala, HM Parameshwara said that all such aspects will be part of the investigation and the SIT will look into it.

“I do not respond to every statement made by BJP leaders. Our responsibility is to ensure the SIT investigates and submits its report,” he said.

On the ED’s reported interest in the case, HM Parameshwara said, “I don’t know the terms of reference under which the ED will probe. As per the SIT’s terms of reference, the statement of Chinnaiah, the ‘mask man’ complainant, before the court is being examined.” 

-IANS

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Dharmasthala Mass Burial SIT Probe: Sujata Bhat Confesses Daughter ‘Ananya’ Never Existed https://thecommunemag.com/dharmasthala-mass-burial-sit-probe-sujata-bhat-confesses-daughter-ananya-never-existed/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:57:54 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=126834 The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the “mass burial” allegations in Dharmasthala has said that Sujata Bhat, who claimed her daughter went missing during a college trip to the temple town, has admitted that her story was fabricated. According to investigators, Sujata underwent two rounds of questioning. On the first day she was allowed to […]

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the “mass burial” allegations in Dharmasthala has said that Sujata Bhat, who claimed her daughter went missing during a college trip to the temple town, has admitted that her story was fabricated.

According to investigators, Sujata underwent two rounds of questioning. On the first day she was allowed to present her version, but during the second round the SIT confronted her with evidence contradicting her claims. Officials said she confessed to lying about two key points: her surname and the existence of a daughter named Ananya Bhat.

Her shifting accounts had drawn attention on regional television and social media platforms. She initially alleged that her daughter, a medical student, disappeared during a college trip to Dharmasthala. She later told a YouTuber that the daughter never existed, before again reversing herself by saying she had been pressured by a channel to deny the claim. The latest confession marks her third major turnaround in recent weeks.

Pattern of Deception

Sujata’s confession follows the recent arrest of another key figure in the case – CN Chinnaiah, alias Chennayya, the masked man whose dramatic allegations sparked the massive investigation. He appeared in public with a human skull and alleged that mass burials had taken place in Dharmasthala. The SIT later found that he had made false statements and arrested him on charges of perjury.

Investigators carried out extensive digging and searches following his allegations, but the results have been limited. More than 50 days into the probe, human remains have been recovered from only two locations near a river. Around 100 bone fragments were found, which forensic experts suggest may correspond to just one or two individuals rather than the large numbers claimed.

Chinnaiah’s former wife and associates had described him as a “habitual liar”, further weakening his testimony.

Despite the recent revelations about fabricated claims, Dharmasthala has been shadowed by mysterious disappearances for decades. The first recorded case dates back to 1987 when 17-year-old Padmalatha was found dead, with her family alleging rape and murder. The case was never solved. In 2012, another 17-year-old, Soujanya, was found raped and murdered a day after being declared missing.

Sources indicate that Sujata’s family may be involved in a property dispute with the temple administration, potentially providing motivation for the false allegations. Police are now working to determine the complete scope of the deception and what legal actions to pursue against those who provided false information.

Despite these setbacks, investigators emphasize that their work continues. The SIT remains committed to examining all credible evidence and following legitimate leads regarding any actual crimes that may have occurred in Dharmasthala.

(With inputs from NDTV)

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Operation Dharmasthala: How Leftist Ecosystem Engineered A Mass Burial Myth To Target The Temple And Its Management https://thecommunemag.com/operation-dharmasthala-how-leftist-ecosystem-engineered-a-mass-burial-myth-to-target-the-temple-and-its-management/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:15:10 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=126236 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 […]

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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 video
Screenshot 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”.

Reporter TV

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.

Mohammed Zubair

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.

Desi Studios

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

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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How Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande Peddled Propaganda Against Dharmasthala And Veerendra Heggade https://thecommunemag.com/how-newslaundrys-manisha-pande-peddled-propaganda-narrative-against-dharmasthala-and-veerendra-heggade/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 07:18:24 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=126418 In the race for who breaks the news first, several end up posting fake news without basic verification. But in what was seen as a calculated attempt at defaming a Hindu religious institution, The News Minute played a major role in amplifying the fake claims. Its sister organisation Newslaundry also did the same – while […]

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In the race for who breaks the news first, several end up posting fake news without basic verification. But in what was seen as a calculated attempt at defaming a Hindu religious institution, The News Minute played a major role in amplifying the fake claims. Its sister organisation Newslaundry also did the same – while they simply reposted TNM’s videos, there was one video (which seems to be deleted now) sometime when the Parliament was in session (as mentioned in the video) defaming the temple and the Dharmadhikari. The now-debunked Dharmasthala “mass burial” saga stands as a stark lesson in journalistic malpractice. But will they learn?

Coming back to the article, Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande, in what seems to be a now-deleted video, became a prime example of how activism can be disguised as reporting, meticulously constructing a narrative to implicate the Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, Veerendra Heggade, based on nothing but a fabricated story.

Pande’s report, framed as an issue that “hasn’t got the attention it deserves,” did not seek to investigate the claim but to legitimize it through emotional manipulation and selective omission of facts. Her approach followed a well-worn leftist playbook: amplify the allegation, ignore countervailing evidence, and frame any attempt at legal defense as the action of a powerful, guilty party silencing the truth.

Pande’s segment was all about persuasive storytelling, not objective journalism. She begins by lending credibility to the “chilling report” from publications like Deccan Herald and The Hindu.

She then meticulously details the masked man’s “gory claim,” sharing TNM’s video which repeats every horrific detail – bodies with acid attack marks, girls in school uniforms, signs of sexual assault, and death threats. This served to horrify and provoke outrage, making the audience emotionally invested in the allegation itself rather than its validity.

The most glaring failure of Pande’s reporting was her portrayal of the judicial response. She framed the ex-parte injunction secured by Harshendra Kumar Heggade purely as “censorship” by a “powerful political figure” to silence the truth.

She deliberately omitted the fundamental legal principle behind such injunctions: the protection of reputation from unproven and potentially defamatory allegations. The court’s action was a standard legal remedy available to any individual or institution facing what appears to be a baseless, public, and damaging smear campaign. By not explaining this context, Pande painted a picture of a guilty man using his influence to hide his crimes, effectively pre-judging the case and poisoning the well for her audience.

A responsible journalist would have asked critical questions that Pande conspicuously avoided. Pande, like all other leftist publications, accepted his story at face value without any independent verification of his identity, employment history, or the sudden awakening of his conscience.

The media outlet’s role shifted from verifying facts to acting as a megaphone for an allegation, demanding that the accused prove a negative.

As we now know, these questions would have revealed the truth far sooner. The entire narrative collapsed under the slightest scrutiny:

  • The SIT found no evidence in the locations identified.
  • The skull presented as evidence was found to be decades old and belonging to a male.
  • The “masked man,” identified as Chinnayya, confessed to being trained by a gang in Chennai to spread the lie.
  • Key “witnesses” like Sujatha Bhat (the alleged mother of one victim) publicly admitted on camera that their entire story was fabricated.

Manisha Pande’s report for Newslaundry was not an isolated error but a calculated piece of narrative-building. It amplifies a lie with sensationalist detail, frame the legal self-defense of the accused as an admission of guilt, and then quietly disappear or memory-hole the content when the fabrication is exposed, offering no apology or correction.

The target was not just Veerendra Heggade but the very institution he represents. The objective was to “sow a seed of doubt in the minds of the public,” to question the credibility of a revered Hindu temple, and to portray it as a suspicious institution rather than a center of faith and social service.

If the video has indeed been deleted, the deletion from YouTube is a silent admission of its falsehood. However, the damage inflicted by this propaganda on the reputation of a sacred institution and a respected individual is a testament to the perils of activist journalism, where the agenda to “question” Hindu institutions outweighs the duty to report the truth.

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