Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, along with party legislators, visited Manjunatha Swamy temple during the party’s ‘Dharmasthala Chalo’ rally, in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, on September 1, 2025.
Alleging a ‘very big conspiracy’ behind allegations of multiple rapes, murders and burials in Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka BJP president B. Y. Vijayendra demanded that the case be handed over to the NIA or CBI.
Mr. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok, BJP legislators and leaders are in Dharmasthala to participate in the ‘Dharmasthala chalo’ rally in the temple town.
Prior to the rally, they offered prayers in the Manjunatha temple and met temple dharmadhikari (custodian) D. Veerendra Heggade who is a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha.
“Irrespective of caste, creed and religion, everybody is demanding a thorough investigation by CBI or NIA. It is a must in the Dharmasthala episode. This is the demand of all the devotees of Dharmasthala lord Manjunatha,” Mr. Vijayendra said.
“A lot of false propaganda was carried out during the investigation by SIT, constituted by the State Government. Crores and crores of devotees are upset at the way in which the false propaganda has been carried out at the national and international levels. The sentiments of devotees are hurt,” he said.
The BJP chief pointed out that Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had claimed that there was a lot of pressure from leftist groups on the State Government for an investigation, and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar has said that there is a big conspiracy in the Dharmasthala episode.
“Everything needs to be exposed. There is a very big conspiracy against the Dharmasthala temple. Hence, we are demanding a thorough investigation by the NIA or CBI. I hope the State Government, without any delay, will order an investigation at the earliest,” he added.
The controversy erupted after a man, identified as C. N. Chinnaiah and arrested on charge of perjury, claimed to burying a number of bodies, including those of women with signs of sexual assault, in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.
The SIT, formed by the State Government, which is probing charges, excavated multiple locations identified by the complainant in the forest along the banks of the Netravati river in Dharmasthala. Skeletal remains were found at two sites.
On August 31, JD(S), led by its youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, held a ‘Dharmasthala Sathya Yatre’ in Dharmasthala, with a similar demand.
Published – September 01, 2025 02:55 pm IST
