Bengaluru: In a significant development amid allegations of a conspiracy against Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and its Dharmadhikari, the Karnataka High Court has issued notices to several key authorities, including the state Home Department, Income Tax (IT) officials, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The court is seeking a probe into the financial sources and networks of activist Mahesh Shetty Timarodi and others, following a petition filed in the High Court.Also Read: Hassanamba Devi Darshan Begins Today: Dress Code Mandatory for Devotees

Background of the Petition

The petition, highlighting an alleged conspiracy targeting Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and its Dharmadhikari, demands an investigation into the activities and funding sources of Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, Girish Mattannavar, T. Jayanth, and M.D. Sameer. It accuses them of orchestrating a campaign against the temple, its trustees, and associated institutions, possibly with foreign funding.The joint petition was filed by Bengaluru-based Tejas A. WEET Cotton T-Shirt and Pyjama Set for Men,Night Wear for Men,Men's Pyjama Set 122

Gowda, Belthangady's Bhaskar Badekotte, Dharmasthala's Surendra Prabhu, and Dhanakeerthi Ariga. The matter came up for hearing before Justice Suraj Govindaraj's bench on October 9, 2025.

After hearing preliminary arguments, the bench directed notices to:State Home Department

Director General of Police

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner

Dakshina Kannada District SP

SIT probing the Dharmasthala case

Mangaluru Income Tax officials

ED Mangaluru Sub-Zonal Office Director

Key Allegations in the Petition

Petitioner Tejas Gowda alleged in the plea that Mahesh Shetty Timarodi has paid lakhs of rupees to lawyers in the name of the "Soujanya" agitation (referring to a high-profile 2012 rape-murder case). He further claimed that Soujanya's mother and others involved in the protests have acquired properties worth crores, raising questions about the source of these funds. Gowda urged the SIT to probe these financial trails.

According to petitioner Dhanakeerthi Ariga, YouTuber "Kudla Rampage" editor has been continuously publishing conspiracy reports against Dharmasthala. The plea seeks to uncover the sources of these reports. It also accuses the YouTuber of misrepresenting their content as "SIT reports" during the ongoing probe, and requests the SIT to verify the authenticity of these claims.