Bengaluru, August 3, 2025 — The unresolved 2012 rape and murder case of 17-year-old Soujanya in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, has thrust D. Veerendra Heggade, the hereditary Dharmadhikari of the Sri Manjunatha Temple and a Rajya Sabha MP, into the spotlight. Allegations of his involvement in shielding perpetrators, coupled with a whistleblower’s claims of mass burials, have intensified demands for accountability, as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigates both the Soujanya case and broader systemic crimes in the temple town.
The Soujanya Case and Initial Investigation
Soujanya, a second-year pre-university student at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College in Ujire, was abducted on October 9, 2012, while returning home. Her body, found the next day near the Nethravathi River, showed signs of sexual assault and strangulation, with her hands tied to a tree using her shawl. The initial investigation by Belthangady police, followed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and later the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), led to the arrest of Santhosh Rao. Rao was acquitted by a Bengaluru Sessions Court on June 16, 2023, due to insufficient evidence, with the court criticizing investigative lapses, including failure to collect CCTV footage and mishandling forensic evidence.
Soujanya’s family, led by her mother Kusumavati, has consistently alleged that the real culprits were protected by influential figures, specifically pointing to the Heggade family. They claimed Veerendra Heggade’s nephew, Nischal Jain, and associates like Malik Jain and Dheeraj Jain, linked to the temple trust, were involved, though Heggade maintained Nischal was in New York at the time. The CID briefly detained and released these individuals, and courts rejected petitions challenging their release.
Veerendra Heggade’s Role and Allegations
Veerendra Heggade, who has administered the Dharmasthala temple since 1968, is a revered figure known for his philanthropy, including running the Annapoorna kitchen, overseeing educational institutions, and earning the Padma Vibhushan in 2015. As a Jain Bunt overseeing a Hindu temple, his influence extends across religious, social, and political spheres, with significant control over local institutions and land. However, Soujanya’s family and activists, including Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, have accused Heggade of using his authority to suppress the investigation, alleging he contacted the then-Home Minister to influence the probe.
In 2013, Heggade denied these allegations, calling them baseless and filing a defamation case against Thimarodi, who led protests demanding justice. He claimed to have supported a CBI probe and urged the public not to believe misinformation targeting the temple. In 2023, he reiterated this stance, emphasizing that the temple sought a thorough investigation and that the acquittal of Santhosh Rao was a judicial outcome. However, critics point to the suspicious deaths of two witnesses, Ravi Poojary and Varija, labeled as suicides, and the high number of unnatural deaths in Belthangady Taluk—over 460 between 2000 and 2012—as evidence of systemic cover-ups.
Whistleblower’s Claims and SIT Investigation
The case escalated in July 2025 when a former sanitation worker, employed by the temple trust from 1995 to 2014, alleged he was coerced into burying or burning hundreds of bodies, many showing signs of sexual assault and murder, under orders from influential figures. His testimony, recorded under heavy protection on July 11, 2025, prompted the Karnataka government to form a four-member SIT led by DGP Pronab Mohanty on July 20, 2025. The SIT is tasked with investigating these mass burial claims, reinvestigating Soujanya’s case, and probing police officers for initial investigative failures.
The whistleblower, a Dalit who fled Dharmasthala in 2014 after a relative’s assault, provided photographic evidence and identified burial sites, alleging involvement of temple management. While Heggade and the temple trust, through spokesperson K Parshwanath Jain, have supported a “fair and transparent” investigation, they have faced legal scrutiny, including a Bengaluru court’s gag order on July 20, 2025, restraining media from linking Heggade’s brother, Harshendra Kumar, to the allegations. The Supreme Court, on July 24, 2025, advised petitioners to approach the Karnataka High Court to challenge this order.
Public and Political Reactions
The SIT probe has galvanized public outrage, with protests led by organizations like Naveddu Nilladiddare and the Karnataka State Commission for Women demanding accountability. Activists have called for the temple’s takeover by the state’s Muzrai Department, citing Heggade’s alleged influence over local law enforcement. A viral YouTube video by Sameer M.D., viewed over 18 million times, exposed investigative lapses, though it led to an FIR against him for offending religious sentiments, later stayed by the Karnataka High Court.
The BJP, with Heggade as a nominated Rajya Sabha member since 2022, has dismissed the allegations as a Congress-led conspiracy to destabilize coastal Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while cautious, has signaled openness to an SIT probe based on police recommendations, stating on July 18, 2025, that the whistleblower’s claims would be verified.
Implications for Heggade and Dharmasthala
Heggade’s role remains contentious. While he has not been formally charged, the allegations challenge his legacy as a philanthropist and spiritual leader. His supporters argue that the accusations are politically motivated, citing his contributions to education, healthcare, and rural development through the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP). Critics, however, point to the Heggade family’s control over 400 acres of land and local businesses, suggesting their influence may have stifled investigations.
The SIT’s findings, expected soon, could redefine Heggade’s public image and the temple’s reputation. If substantiated, the whistleblower’s claims may implicate temple associates, though Heggade’s direct involvement remains unproven. The probe also risks escalating tensions in Dharmasthala, where locals fear retaliation, as seen in past defamation suits and alleged threats against activists. Kusumavati, Soujanya’s mother, remains resolute, stating, “Justice for my daughter will expose the truth hidden in Dharmasthala.”
As the SIT navigates this high-stakes investigation, the nation watches whether it will deliver closure for Soujanya and address the broader allegations, or if Dharmasthala’s dark history will remain unresolved.
