The Dharmasthala Mass Burial Allegations: Unraveling a Media Driven Controversy or Conspiracy Against Hindu Temples?
The Dharmasthala Temple, dedicated to Lord Manjunatha—a revered form of Lord Shiva—is an ancient shrine over 800 years old, known for its unique blend of Shaiva worship performed by Vaishnava priests and administration by a Jain family, the Heggades. It is a prominent spiritual center celebrated for religious harmony and charitable activities such as free meals to all visitors. The temple is located in the historic town of Dharmasthala (formerly Kuduma), situated on the banks of the Nethravathi River in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, which grew around this sacred site as a symbol of faith, community, and cultural coexistence.
In July 2025, the tranquil town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka became the epicentre of a startling controversy when a former sanitation worker, identified in media reports as C.N. Chinnayya (alias Chenna), accused temple authorities of forcing him to bury over a hundred bodies, mostly women and minors, allegedly victims of sexual assaults and murders spanning nearly two decades. These explosive allegations rapidly gained international media attention, sparking political unrest and widespread public anxiety.
Initial Claims and Media Hysteria
C.N. Chinnayya, employed for years by the Dharmasthala temple administration, claimed that burial orders came directly from the temple’s information center, bypassing local governance. He described being coerced under threats by supervisory staff to dispose of bodies, sometimes by burning, to obliterate evidence. His accounts included vivid descriptions of sexual violence and acid burns on corpses. Chinnayya’s revelations initially painted a grim picture of systematic and long-term abuse allegedly covered up by temple authorities.
This narrative was aggressively amplified by numerous media outlets. Al Jazeera, notably, published a sensational feature on July 22, 2025, framing it as one of the worst serial killings in history linked to caste oppression and the temple’s alleged complicity. The report leaned heavily on unverified claims, painting the temple administration as oppressive upper-caste figures, and failed to offer substantial counterbalance or evidence.
Indian outlet The News Minute ran a series of reports endorsing these allegations long after their validity was questioned. The Diplomat and People.Com also echoed the narrative, presenting the whistleblower’s statements as largely credible without adequately addressing emerging contradictions. Even Malayalam channel Reporter Live continued promoting the story despite mounting doubts.
The BBC initially reported on the case with some measure of caution, focusing on the allegations but also including official denials and ongoing investigations. However, its early tone suggested guilt before conclusive evidence emerged.
The Investigation and Fall of the Accusations
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by DGP (Internal Security) Pronab Mohanty, launched a rigorous probe shortly after. Excavations at multiple sites largely failed to substantiate the claims of mass burials. Although skeletal remains were found at two locations, forensic analysis showed these were unrelated to the alleged mass murder and burial events. Further investigations revealed that some evidence presented, including skeletal remains handed over by Chinnayya, originated from outside sources, possibly even laboratories, thus fabricated.
By August 2025, C.N. Chinnayya was arrested for perjury and fabricating evidence. His statements were riddled with inconsistencies exposed during marathon interrogations. The investigation also uncovered contradictions in claims by other complainants, including Sujatha Bhat, who retracted her statement about her daughter’s disappearance when confronted.
Veerendra Heggade, the temple’s head trustee and a Rajya Sabha MP, welcomed the investigative findings debunking the claims. He and his supporters, including political leaders from both BJP and Congress, condemned the allegations as part of a larger conspiracy aimed at maligning the temple and Hindu institutions.
Media Response: Clarifications and Persisting Bias
Following the SIT’s findings, several media houses revised their stance. The BBC issued updates clarifying the arrest of the whistleblower and the discrediting of the initial accusations, presenting a more balanced and evidence-based narrative.
India Today published detailed interviews highlighting the whistleblower’s conflicting statements and emerging doubts. The New Indian Express also covered the developments objectively, focusing on ongoing investigations without sensationalism.
In stark contrast, Al Jazeera has conspicuously failed to issue any formal clarification or retraction. Its initial coverage, which strongly framed the narrative in terms of anti-Hindu sentiment and caste oppression, remains uncorrected despite the SIT’s conclusive findings. This selective reporting raises questions about editorial biases and the use of such stories to advance broader ideological goals rather than truth. Other outlets, such as The News Minute and several influencers, have also persisted with skewed narratives, disregarding official findings.
Broader Implications and Final Reflections
The Dharmasthala case has become a textbook example of how misinformation, amplified by sections of the media, can polarize public opinion and damage the reputation of revered religious institutions. While the situation exposed genuine investigative challenges—including historical gaps in local policing—the wholesale fabrication of mass murders and burials has been conclusively disproved.
The sustained failure of some media entities, particularly Al Jazeera, to correct or clarify misleading reports underscores the critical need for ethical journalism, especially when reporting on culturally sensitive matters with potential communal fallout. The case serves as a cautionary tale of media sensationalism and the responsibilities that come with wielding such influence.
The Dharmasthala temple and its administrators have been vindicated against a backdrop of politically charged propaganda and misinformation campaigns. Future investigations continue into unrelated disappearances in the region but must avoid conflation with the discredited mass burial story.
