Dharmasthala Crimes: ‘B L Santosh pressuring BJP MLAs to protect Veerendra Heggade’

Bengaluru

A highly placed source in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) told blrpost.com, “BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B. L. Santosh is pressuring a section of Karnataka BJP MLAs and MPs to issue statements protecting Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade’s family during the ongoing investigation into the mass burial case.”

A national-level RSS leader said the RSS does not approve of Santosh’s actions, as the Sangh simply wants to know the truth. The Sangh and the Union Government are also closely watching the developments unfolding in Dharmasthala. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is reportedly working transparently on the ground, collecting inputs, the source said cryptically.

The source added, “For the past ten days, B. L. Santosh has been personally calling many MLAs and instructing them to issue statements in favour of Dharmasthala.” This, the source claimed, was evident from his Facebook post on August 8, 2025, which read: “Let’s wake up, Sabarimala, Shanisinglapura, Esha, now Dharmasthala.” He also reposted a Facebook article subtly in favour of Veerendra Heggade, commenting: “Timely writing… a piece that addresses the matter with balance among conflicting parties… Though delayed, still timely… the person – the personality – and the writing, all equally substantial.”

The source further alleged, “Santosh is calling these MLAs on a daily basis—at least ten times a day—to put pressure and implement his strategy.” The BJP has two factions in Karnataka: one led by former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa and the other by B. L. Santosh. Santosh also contacted some MPs who are not part of his camp. One BJP MP reportedly told Santosh, “As a religious shrine, we respect Dharmasthala. But I am not interested in hero worship of any individuals.”

This suggests that some MPs and MLAs are also reluctant to protect Heggade’s dynasty in Dharmasthala, where multiple missing persons, murder, and rape cases have mysteriously remained unsolved to this day.

The source said Karnataka BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra is also not keen on protecting this dynasty, but his hands are tied. “If the investigation leads to any breakthrough, most of them are set to face embarrassment,” the source added. “It is wise to maintain distance during the investigation.”