There’s a concerning trend of certain influencers and media portals allegedly maligning the sacred Dharmasthala Mandir, a revered Hindu pilgrimage site. This campaign of slander appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish the Mandirs image and undermine its significant cultural and religious standing. By spreading misinformation and negative narratives, these individuals and outlets seem to be engaged in a concerted effort to attack a pillar of Hindu faith and tradition, raising questions about their motives and the integrity of their reporting. This pattern of targeted criticism against Hindu institutions is viewed by many as an unfair and biased assault on a community’s beliefs.
This report compiles 20 articles, posts, and comments from influencers and media portals that have targeted and maligned the Dharmasthala Mandir between July and August 2025.
The News Minute’s unverified claims and the maligning of Dharmasthala Mandir
Between July and August 2025, The News Minute ran a series of over two dozen reports that heavily amplified unverified allegations against the Dharmasthala Mandir. The outlet’s coverage relied on the claims of a former sanitation worker, C.N. Chinnaiah, who initially filed an FIR alleging that temple authorities forced him to bury hundreds of bodies. Chinnaiah, who made these claims from behind a mask, alleged that many of the victims, including women and minors, had been raped and murdered.
Despite the lack of verifiable proof and the fact that Chinnaiah was arrested for perjury on August 23, 2025, The News Minute continued to push its narrative. The outlet sensationalised the story, linking it to old, unrelated cases and dismissing official explanations. Even after an SIT investigation and witness confessions debunked the claims, The News Minute continued to frame the Mandirs management as complicit in a cover-up. The extensive and one-sided coverage has been widely criticised for prioritising propaganda over factual reporting and for its role in a targeted campaign to malign a revered Hindu institution.
Al Jazeera’s sensationalist coverage of Dharmasthala Mandir
On July 22, 2025, Al Jazeera amplified the Dharmasthala “mass burial” conspiracy with a sensational video and a lengthy feature article. The report framed the unverified claims as “one of the worst serial killings in history.” The report heavily leaned on caste narratives, portraying the Mandir management as oppressive and complicit without providing any verifiable evidence. By connecting unrelated past cases and repeatedly emphasising the alleged victimhood of Dalits at the hands of “upper-caste temple administrators,” Al Jazeera positioned the story as part of a broader anti-Hindu, anti-Bharat narrative.
BBC’s biased reporting on Dharmasthala Mandir
On August 6, 2025, the BBC published a one-sided ground report and several articles on the Dharmasthala Mandir case. The coverage focused exclusively on perspectives critical of the Mandir, with a tone that suggested the Mandirs guilt was already proven. The BBC’s reporting presented a consistently biased viewpoint, failing to include any counterarguments or official explanations.
Reporter Live spreads fake news on Dharmasthala Mandir
Between July and August 2025, Malayalam news channel Reporter Live published a series of fake news stories about the Dharmasthala Mandir and its management. The channel continued to run these reports even after the initial claims of a “mass burial” were proven false and the whistleblower was arrested for perjury. This sustained campaign has been criticised for deliberately spreading misinformation.
The Diplomat’s sensational article on Dharmasthala Mandir
On August 11, 2025, The Diplomat published a sensational article that linked the Dharmasthala Mandir to alleged “mass burials,” rapes, and political corruption. The article relied solely on a whistleblower’s unverified allegations, highlighting alleged suppression by authorities and hinting at the political influence of the Mandirs patrons. By framing the Mandir as the centre of a major crime and cover-up, The Diplomat’s report cast the religious institution in a deeply negative light and amplified doubts about its social and religious standing.
People.com repeats unverified claims against Dharmasthala Mandir
On July 25, 2025, People.com repeated unverified claims from a whistleblower who alleged mass rapes, murders, and burials at the Dharmasthala Mandir. Citing outlets like Al Jazeera and India Today, the report included graphic descriptions of the alleged crimes, presenting the temple as a site of horrific activities. The article amplified these allegations without including any balancing information, such as the SIT’s investigation findings or the Mandirs official statement. This one-sided coverage contributed to the negative narrative surrounding the respected religious institution.
DW publishes sensational article on Dharmasthala Mandir
On July 7, 2025, DW published an article portraying the Dharmasthala Mandir as the site of a horrific scandal. The article amplified the unverified claims of a former sanitation worker who alleged mass murders, rapes, and secret burials at the Mandir between 1995 and 2014. The piece described graphic incidents, including assaults on minors, and accused temple supervisors of issuing threats, beatings, and orchestrating cover-ups. It reported that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed after activists pressured the Karnataka government, and it also highlighted missing persons cases linked to the area.
ABC News reports on whistleblower allegations against Dharmasthala Mandir
On August 17, 2025, ABC News reported on a whistleblower’s allegations of mass murders, rapes, and secret burials at the Dharmasthala Mandir between 1995 and 2014. The article described how the former sanitation worker guided police to 13 alleged burial sites where investigators recovered human remains, including bones and a skull. It linked the claims to unresolved cases of disappearances and assaults in the region, including the 2012 Sowjanya case.
Newslaundry connects unidentified suicide cases to Dharmasthala Mandir
In its “Let Me Explain” episode on August 5, 2025, Newslaundry linked unidentified suicide cases from the area to the Dharmasthala Mandir, presenting the connection as a fact without providing any concrete evidence.
Media One TV accuses authorities of improper investigation
On August 15, 2025, a show on Media One TV featured panelists who claimed that the investigation into the Dharmasthala Mandir case was not being conducted properly. The panelists argued that the accused were powerful and had connections to people in power, which they said was hindering a fair and thorough investigation.
Mohammed Zubair questions media silence on Dharmasthala allegations
On August 5, 2025, influencer Mohammed Zubair posted on X, questioning why national news channels and anchors were not covering the Dharmasthala “mass burial” scandal. He specifically referenced the allegations of rape, murder, and the “horror stories of skeletons,” noting that only a few outlets like The News Minute, The South First, and Deccan Herald, along with some local channels, were reporting on it. The post highlighted a perceived lack of national media attention on the issue.
Dhanya Rajendran highlights potential conflict of interest in Dharmasthala case
On August 2, 2025, journalist Dhanya Rajendran posted on X, pointing out a potential conflict of interest. She revealed that the judge who issued a gag order on the Dharmasthala case had studied at a college run by Veerendra Heggade, the temple’s head trustee. Rajendran noted that after this information was made public by journalist Naveen Soorinje, the judge requested the case be transferred to another court. She urged her followers to read a detailed story on the matter by Anisha W.
Sanjay Hegde summarises allegations and media gag order
On August 5, 2025, influencer Sanjay Hegde posted a summary of the Dharmasthala Mandir allegations. He described the situation as a “long story short,” mentioning the Mandirs chief trustee (a Jain) is a Rajya Sabha member and that many women have gone missing over the years. He highlighted the claims of a former sanitation worker who alleged he was forced to bury bodies bearing signs of rape and that human remains had been unearthed by an SIT. Hegde also pointed out that the trustees had filed a lawsuit and obtained a court order to prohibit media coverage, ending his post by stating, “Let story unfold further.”
SR PAY pushes unverified narrative on Dharmasthala Mandir
On July 25, 2025, the YouTube channel SR PAY published a video that promoted a fake narrative about the Dharmasthala Mandir. The video presented the masked whistleblower’s story and claims as if they were fully verified, framing the situation as a major scandal unfolding within the temple grounds. The video has been widely criticised for sensationalising the unverified allegations.
Mohammed Sameer booked for spreading fake AI-generated content
On July 12, 2025, Kannada YouTuber Mohammed Sameer was booked by Dakshina Kannada police for using AI-generated false content in a viral video about the Dharmasthala controversy. The video, titled “Who Are Serial Killrs of Dharmasthala?”, had garnered over 7.8 million views. According to the police, the video misrepresented the whistleblower’s complaint and added fabricated details that went beyond the actual court proceedings.
Manisha Pandey criticises Dharmasthala Mandirs legal action
On August 24, 2025, Manisha Pandey of Newslaundry questioned the actions of Dharmasthala Administration Head Veerendra Heggade. She criticised him for seeking a legal injunction to take down content related to a case that was still under investigation. In her post, she also praised The News Minute for its reporting on the Dharmasthala case.
Prakash Raj questions patriotism in connection to Dharmasthala case
On August 6, 2025, influencer Prakash Raj re-posted a tweet by Mohammed Zubair and added his own comment. He wrote, “Your Honour is seeking justice for this horrible crime not patriotism,” linking the demand for justice in the Dharmasthala case with nationalistic values.
Damodharan Prakash spreads unverified claims and baseless allegations
On July 22, 2025, journalist Damodharan Prakash made a series of unfounded claims in a post on X. He alleged that Dakshina Kannada SP Arun, a Tamilian, had submitted a report to the Chief Minister stating that 13 bodies were initially buried at the Dharmasthala temple and that 400 women were allegedly killed and buried. He also claimed that Arun’s report, along with protests led by lawyers, had shaken the Chief Minister. Prakash further alleged that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would begin digging to find the bodies. He concluded his post by making a baseless claim that Arun’s predecessor, K. Annamalai, was inducted into the BJP because he had hidden bodies, ending with the provocative statement, “Truth will not die.”
StudyIQ IAS publishes a sensational video on Dharmasthala Mandir
On August 4, 2025, StudyIQ IAS uploaded a video with a sensational description that framed the Dharmasthala Mandir as the site of a “chilling” scandal. The description claimed that 400 women had gone missing and that skeletal remains had been discovered. It also asked a series of rhetorical questions, such as “What really happened in this mysterious case? Was it a ritual, a crime, or something even darker?” The video was presented as a “mysterious and true crime story.”
Desi Studios spreads misleading and baseless claims
On July 26, 2025, the YouTube channel Desi Studios published a video with a misleading title: “Who Is Behind Dharmasthala’s Dark Truth? | Sowjanya, Ananya and 1000 Other Bodies.” The video also made a series of baseless claims, calling the Dharmasthala a “hub of political power.”
The articles and social media posts compiled in this report reveal a concerted and deliberate campaign to tarnish the reputation of the Dharmasthala Mandir. This media blitz, originating from sources like The News Minute, Al Jazeera, BBC, and prominent influencers, consistently relied on the unverified and ultimately debunked allegations of a single individual. Despite the fact that the accuser was later arrested for perjury and an SIT investigation had already discredited his claims, these outlets continued to push a sensationalist and one-sided narrative. The report shows a pattern of misleading headlines, the linking of unrelated past cases, and a biased portrayal of the Mandirs administration, all of which served to malign a revered Hindu institution. This extensive, fact-averse coverage raises serious questions about the integrity of a segment of the media and social influencers who seem determined to attack a pillar of Hindu faith and tradition, even at the expense of journalistic ethics.
