Dharmasthala: Veerendra Heggade dismisses allegations as ‘baseless and false’

Dharmasthala: Veerendra Heggade dismisses allegations as ‘baseless and false’

Mangalore Today News Network

Dharmasthala, Aug 20, 2025: In an exclusive interview to PTI, Heggade said, “These issues are baseless and false, and I was really hurt by these accusations. The way things are projected in social media is morally wrong.” Reacting to Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s statement in the Assembly that the SIT would get to the bottom of the issue, Heggade said, “We welcomed the SIT the same day. It’s good that the State has formed it and once and for all the truth should come out. It’s not good that allegations are made and they remain that way.” He appealed for speedy investigation.

“We want the investigations to conclude at the earliest and the issue be resolved. All our books and we in particular are open. The SIT has to thoroughly investigate and the guilty be punished,” Heggade said.

He alleged that an “organised campaign” targeting Dharmasthala and its trust has been carried out for over 14 years. “Irked by the good work being done by us, some elements carry out false campaigns but we are unperturbed,” he said.

Referring to recent videos of a masked man claiming to have buried bodies in Dharmasthala, he said, “This is impossible. There is a popular belief that if one dies in Dharmasthala, they will get salvation. Whenever there is a death, we used to inform the panchayat and they do due diligence and bury the body.” 

The Dharmadhikari expressed concern that social media had polluted young minds. “They want the youth to turn away from the faith,” Heggade rued.

“We are shocked and surprised the way things were depicted. Social media is a very powerful medium and many of our well-wishers say that we have not used social media to publicise our good work. The work carried out in society is our duty, it’s a commitment and service. We have reached all the villages and touched 55 lakh families through various social works.”     

‘Vicious campaigns’

Responding to renewed calls for justice in the Soujanya murder case, Heggade said, “When we came to know that such a thing has happened, we informed the government the same day. Allegations on our families are baseless. Our family members who they alleged were abroad for education and we have produced documents. These are vicious campaigns.”