On July 18, a Bengaluru Additional City Civil and Sessions Court issued an injunction ordering the removal and de-indexing of 8,842 online links related to allegations of mass burials in Dharmasthala, a major temple town in Karnataka.
The petition was filed by Harshendra Kumar D, secretary of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Education Society and brother of BJP MP D Veerendra Heggade, whose family manages the temple and associated institutions.
These developments follow a whistleblower’s complaint in which he alleged that he was coerced to bury bodies, many of which showed signs of sexual assault, between 1998 and 2014. In response to the controversy and public outcry, the Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DGP Pronab Mohanty on July 19 to conduct a thorough probe.
Judicial Intervention Amid Widespread Public Attention
The court order, issued by Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Vijaya Kumar Rai, restricts publication or sharing of defamatory content against the petitioner and related entities until the next hearing on August 5.
The injunction covers 4,149 YouTube videos, 3,584 Instagram posts, newspaper reports, and other online content that Harshendra Kumar D claimed was unverified and damaging to the reputation of his family, the temple, and its educational institutions, which collectively employ 75,000 people and educate 45,000 students.
The petitioner argued that the widespread sharing of these allegations severely impacted societal trust and caused irreparable harm, prompting the court to balance defamation concerns against freedom of speech.
Grave Allegations Prompt Government Action
The case originated from a complaint by a former Dalit sanitation worker employed by the Dharmasthala temple administration between 1995 and 2014. He alleged he was forced under threat of death to bury more than 100 bodies, many of women and minors, whose remains showed signs of sexual violence, strangulation, or acid burns.
The whistleblower reportedly provided skeletal remains and documents as evidence and sought protection under the Witness Protection Scheme. The Karnataka government responded swiftly to public pressure by constituting an SIT on July 19, led by DGP Pronab Mohanty and senior IPS officers, to investigate allegations of mass burials, sexual assault, and related unsolved cases connected to Dharmasthala. The temple authorities have welcomed the SIT’s formation, calling for a thorough and impartial investigation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The ongoing case highlights the complex balance between safeguarding individual reputations and ensuring transparency, especially in matters involving serious public allegations. While the court’s injunction seeks to prevent the spread of potentially defamatory content, broad restrictions on information may raise concerns about access to public interest issues.
The Logical Indian emphasizes the importance of protecting due process, supporting fair and thorough investigations, and ensuring that all voices—including those of whistleblowers—are heard through appropriate legal channels. Maintaining both accountability and responsible reporting is crucial in such sensitive situations.
