Bengaluru, August 24, 2025: The revered religious center of Dharmasthala in Karnataka, which faced allegations of misconduct involving the improper burial of hundreds of bodies, has seen a major development that has cleared its name. In a symbolic act, villagers and devotees broke coconuts and offered prayers to Annappa Swamy at the temple, seeking divine justice against those who spread false claims about the sacred site.

An anonymous complainant, C.N. Chinnayya alias Chinna, had alleged that numerous bodies, particularly of women, were buried in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014 without post-mortem examinations. These accusations triggered widespread outrage and led to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. During the investigation, Chinnayya confessed to authorities that he was a pawn in a larger conspiracy orchestrated to defame Dharmasthala, admitting that his allegations were fabricated as part of a planned effort to tarnish the reputation of the Manjunatha Swamy temple and its administration.DRDO Successfully Conducts Maiden Flight Test of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System

The SIT conducted excavations at 17 locations around Dharmasthala but found no evidence to support the claims, except for a single skeleton at one site, which is now under forensic analysis. The lack of substantiating evidence has fueled anger among devotees and villagers, who staged protests in cities such as Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Chikmagalur, Tumkur, and Gadag.BULLMER Trendy Clothing Set with Shirt & Pants Co-ords for Men

In Dharmasthala, locals celebrated the debunking of these allegations by breaking coconuts at the Annappa Swamy temple and praying for divine retribution against the conspirators. This act symbolized their faith in the sanctity of Dharmasthala and their belief that truth has prevailed. Devotees also distributed sweets, reaffirming their devotion to the Manjunatha Swamy temple.