Karnataka LoP Ashoka calls Dharmasthala charges baseless, seeks Congress apology
Synopsis
The Dharmasthala skull case has taken a sharp political turn: the very complainant who triggered the controversy now claims he was used to malign the sacred pilgrimage centre. Karnataka's BJP is pressing hard — demanding a Congress apology, SIT report disclosure, and accountability — in what is shaping up as a high-stakes battle over religious sentiment ahead of future electoral cycles.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka on 13 June accused the Congress government of backing a conspiracy to defame Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala .
Complainant Chinnayya ('mask man') has reportedly claimed he was used as a front to malign the pilgrimage centre — a reversal the BJP says vindicates its stand.
Vijayendra and MLA V.
Sunil Kumar have separately demanded disclosure of the SIT report on the Dharmasthala case.
Ashoka demanded a formal public apology from the Congress government and action against alleged masterminds.
The BJP had earlier organised the 'Dharmasthala Chalo' protest campaign against what it called anti-Sanatana policies.
Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Saturday, 13 June declared that a campaign to damage the reputation of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala — one of Karnataka's most revered pilgrimage centres — had collapsed, and accused the state's Congress government of being complicit in an orchestrated conspiracy against the religious institution.
Ashoka's Core Allegations
In a formal statement, Ashoka alleged that a group with left-leaning ideological affiliations, reportedly backed by the Congress government, had engineered a defamation campaign against the temple town. He pointed specifically to the complainant known as 'Chinnayya' — popularly referred to as the 'mask man' — claiming that Congress had used him as a front to malign the institution. 'The truth never dies, and those who target Sanatana Dharma do not succeed. A massive conspiracy against Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, a sacred centre of faith for millions of devotees, has finally collapsed,' Ashoka said.
He further alleged that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had given undue prominence to what the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described as fabricated allegations. 'Instead of supporting the truth, Siddaramaiah rolled out the red carpet for those making false claims. Time itself has delivered justice to those who attempted to shake the foundations of faith,' Ashoka alleged.
The Dharmasthala Skull Case: Background
The controversy centres on what has been referred to as the Dharmasthala skull case, in which allegations were made regarding a mass grave near the prominent Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Mangaluru district. In a significant development, Chinnayya himself has since claimed that he was used as part of a conspiracy to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala — a statement the BJP says vindicates its long-held position.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the Karnataka government to probe the matter. State BJP General Secretary and senior MLA V. Sunil Kumar has demanded that the government immediately make the SIT report public, arguing that continued non-disclosure fuels suspicion.
BJP's Political Mobilisation
The BJP had earlier organised the 'Dharmasthala Chalo' protest campaign, framing it as a defence of Sanatana Dharma and opposition to what the party termed anti-religious policies by the state government. Ashoka maintained that recent developments had fully vindicated the party's position and the mass mobilisation it undertook.
Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday also alleged that a 'major conspiracy' had been hatched to damage the reputation of the Dharmasthala temple and hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, adding his voice to a coordinated BJP push on the issue.
Demands and Next Steps
Ashoka has issued a formal demand that the Congress government publicly apologise to the people of Karnataka for allegedly attempting to tarnish Dharmasthala's reputation and hurt devotees' sentiments. He also called for punitive action against those he described as the masterminds behind the episode, warning that the BJP would continue its agitation until accountability was established.
The Congress government has not yet issued a public response to these specific demands. With the SIT report still undisclosed and Chinnayya's reversal adding a new dimension to the case, the political and legal fallout is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Vijayendra, and Sunil Kumar all speaking within 24 hours — signals a deliberate escalation strategy ahead of future polls. The more telling detail is Chinnayya's own reversal: if the complainant is now disowning his allegations, the Congress faces a credibility problem it cannot easily paper over. The SIT report's continued non-disclosure only deepens that problem. Whether this translates into electoral consequence depends on whether the BJP can sustain the narrative beyond the news cycle — something Karnataka's volatile politics rarely guarantees.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dharmasthala skull case in Karnataka?
The Dharmasthala skull case involves allegations of a mass grave near the Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Mangaluru district, Karnataka. The case became politically charged after complainant Chinnayya, known as the 'mask man', made the initial allegations — and has since reportedly claimed he was used as part of a conspiracy to malign the revered pilgrimage centre.
What has Karnataka LoP R. Ashoka demanded from the Congress government?
Ashoka has demanded a formal public apology from the Congress government for allegedly attempting to tarnish the reputation of Dharmasthala and hurt the sentiments of devotees. He has also called for action against those he described as the masterminds behind the controversy.
Why is the BJP demanding the SIT report be made public?
State BJP General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar has argued that the Karnataka government's continued non-disclosure of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on the Dharmasthala case is fuelling suspicion. The BJP contends that transparency is essential given the scale of the allegations and the public interest involved.
Who is Chinnayya and why does his reversal matter?
Chinnayya, popularly known as the 'mask man', was the complainant who originally made allegations in the Dharmasthala mass grave case. His reported claim that he was used as a front to malign the institution is a significant twist, as the BJP argues it confirms their position that the entire episode was a politically motivated conspiracy.
What was the 'Dharmasthala Chalo' campaign?
'Dharmasthala Chalo' was a BJP-organised protest campaign in Karnataka aimed at opposing what the party termed anti-Sanatana policies and defending the Dharmasthala institution. The BJP says recent developments, including Chinnayya's reversal, have vindicated the campaign's purpose.
