Image showing human remains. For representational purposes.
Credit: iStock Photo
Dharmasthala, nestled in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, has for centuries stood as a symbol of spiritual unity and service. Home to the ancient temple of Lord Manjunatha, administered by the Heggade family, it draws lakhs of devotees annually. Its reputation has been built not just on faith, but on its commitment to feeding thousands daily, offering free medical care, and fostering inter-religious harmony. Yet today, the town is caught in a storm that refuses to subside. The tempest began in 2012, with the rape and murder of 17-year-old Soujanya, a student of SDM College, Ujire. From the start, the investigation was plagued by irregularities. Allegations of planted evidence, manipulated post-mortem records, and flawed police procedures cast a long shadow. A man was arrested but later acquitted, and to this day, the real culprits remain unknown, even after a CBI investigation.
Now, a former sanitation worker has made revelations in a sworn statement where he has alleged that for over two decades, influential people coerced him to dispose of bodies, many showing signs of sexual violence. He claims to have buried the bodies of women, children, and the homeless, often under threat. He fled the town in 2014 after a girl in his own family was assaulted. A decade later, haunted by what he witnessed, he has come forward with chilling details. These allegations have sent shockwaves across the region and the state. Several pro-Hindu organisations have been leading a campaign against Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, and accusing his family of being involved in the Soujanya case. The family has also been accused of a lack of transparency and involvement in historical land disputes. Heggade has denied the charges. Accusations have also emerged that certain Hindu organisations are targeting the Heggade family, which belongs to the Jain community, because they are keen to seize administration of this affluent temple. Regardless of these claims, several critical questions remain unanswered.
However, this cannot be allowed to devolve into a communal or political tug-of-war. The core issue here is not about religion or power, but about justice for Soujanya and many others whose voices may have been silenced. Given the magnitude of the allegations and the possibility of local police facing undue influence, a court-monitored Special Investigation Team becomes imperative. Only an impartial probe can cut through the noise, uncover the truth, and restore public confidence.