Dharmasthala mass grave case: Karnataka BJP alleges conspiracy, demands foreign funding probe
Synopsis
The Dharmasthala mass grave case has taken a sharp turn: the man who first made the allegations now claims he was a paid instrument in a ₹200 crore conspiracy to jail temple chief Veerendra Heggade. Karnataka BJP's B.Y. Vijayendra is demanding a foreign funding probe — and police say action against the original activists may follow.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP President B.Y.
Vijayendra on 12 June alleged a 'major conspiracy' to tarnish the Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple and demanded a probe into foreign funding.
Chinnayya ('mask man'), the original accuser in the skull case, has reversed course, claiming he was used as a pawn and that ₹200 crore was reportedly earmarked to jail Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade .
Chinnayya's petition, filed in the Karnataka High Court on 11 June , names actor Prakash Raj and alleges he was promised ₹50 lakh for his role.
Police indicated that action is likely against activists who led the agitation and legal battle against the temple management.
BJP accused former CM Siddaramaiah of ordering the SIT probe without adequate scrutiny, allegedly after meetings with 'vested interests'.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday, 12 June alleged that a 'major conspiracy' had been hatched to tarnish the reputation of the Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dakshina Kannada district, and demanded a probe into alleged foreign funding behind the campaign. The allegations follow a dramatic reversal by a key figure in the mass grave case that had rocked the prominent Hindu pilgrimage centre.
The 'Mask Man' Reversal
Chinnayya, popularly known as the 'mask man', who had previously made allegations in the Dharmasthala skull case, has now claimed he was used as a pawn in a conspiracy to malign the temple and its management. In a writ petition filed before the Karnataka High Court on Thursday, 11 June, Chinnayya alleged that he was told ₹200 crore had been set aside to ensure that Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade was sent to jail.
Chinnayya's petition also named actor Prakash Raj, claiming that activists had promised him ₹50 lakh if their plan succeeded. Following these allegations, police said on Friday that action is likely against the activists who led the agitation and legal battle demanding action against the temple management.
BJP's Allegations Against the Siddaramaiah Government
Speaking to reporters at the state BJP headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Vijayendra criticised former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's decision to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Dharmasthala case. He claimed the order was issued without proper assessment and was based solely on the allegations of individuals.
'Many facts related to the Dharmasthala case have now come to light. When Siddaramaiah, as the Chief Minister, suddenly ordered an SIT probe, it raised several doubts and suspicions,' Vijayendra said. He further alleged that Siddaramaiah had initially indicated no investigation was necessary, but reportedly changed course after 'certain vested interests' met him at his residence — a claim that has not been independently verified.
Foreign Funding and Financial Conspiracy Claims
Vijayendra alleged that the conspiracy involved 'hundreds of crores of rupees' and called for an investigation into the possible involvement of foreign entities. 'It is now becoming clear that enormous funds were involved. There should be a probe into whether foreign entities had any role in this conspiracy,' he said. The BJP leader also accused the Congress-led state government of indirectly enabling such alleged conspiracies.
He demanded accountability on three counts: who orchestrated the alleged conspiracy, who financed it, and why the SIT was ordered without adequate scrutiny. The BJP had earlier organised a 'Dharmasthala Chalo' protest rally demanding transparency in the matter.
Electoral Roll Revision Row
On a separate issue, Vijayendra also alleged that the state government was creating obstacles in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, despite the Election Commission of India (ECI) having sanctioned the exercise. He claimed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were not receiving proper instructions and that duplicate and deceased voters' names were not being removed effectively. The BJP, he said, would decide its next course of action after further internal discussions.
With the Karnataka High Court now seized of Chinnayya's petition and police signalling possible action against the activists, the Dharmasthala case appears set to enter a new and contentious phase.
Point of View
But it should be read with caution: an accused turning approver — especially one who claims to have been promised ₹50 lakh — is a legally fragile witness whose credibility will face intense scrutiny in the High Court. The BJP's demand for a foreign-funding probe, while politically potent, rests entirely on Chinnayya's unverified petition at this stage. What is notable is the speed with which law enforcement signalled action against the original activists before the court has even heard the petition — raising questions about due process. The Dharmasthala case has always carried the risk of becoming a proxy battleground between Hindu nationalist politics and civil society activism; the latest twist appears to have accelerated that trajectory.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dharmasthala mass grave or skull case?
The Dharmasthala skull case refers to allegations of human remains being found near the Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, which prompted activists and the key accuser 'Chinnayya' to demand a probe into the temple management. The then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah subsequently ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry, which has since become politically contentious.
Who is Chinnayya, the 'mask man', and why has he reversed his allegations?
Chinnayya, known as the 'mask man' for wearing a mask during his public allegations, was a central figure in the Dharmasthala skull case. He has now filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court claiming he was used as part of a conspiracy to malign the temple and its Dharmadhikari, Veerendra Heggade, alleging he was promised ₹50 lakh if the plan succeeded.
What has BJP's B.Y. Vijayendra demanded in connection with the case?
Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has demanded a probe into alleged foreign funding behind the conspiracy to tarnish the Dharmasthala temple, accountability for who orchestrated and financed it, and an explanation for why former CM Siddaramaiah ordered the SIT probe without, he claims, adequate scrutiny.
What action is likely against the activists involved?
Police said on Friday, 12 June, that action is likely against the activists who led the agitation and legal battle demanding action against the temple management, following Chinnayya's reversal and the filing of his writ petition in the Karnataka High Court.
Is actor Prakash Raj officially accused in the case?
Prakash Raj's name has been mentioned in Chinnayya's writ petition filed before the Karnataka High Court, where Chinnayya claims the actor was connected to the activists involved. This is an allegation in a petition and has not been independently verified or established in court.
