Mr. Mohandas Pai! News Minute performed job, not hit job over Dharmasthala

Like any other unbiased media outlet, The News Minute’s reportage on the Dharmasthala mass burial case was fair — not just fair, but also highly accurate. Editor-in-Chief Dhanya Rajendran is known for her insatiable appetite for gathering facts and multiple perspectives before clearing stories for publication.

Mr. T V Mohandas Pai, Blrpost.com would like to bring to your attention that News18 Kannada, owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Network18 Group, was even more vocal than The News Minute in providing a platform to “Soujanya activists” openly protesting against influential personalities in Dharmasthala. Will you now say News18 did a hit job? Because you concluded that Rajendran carried out a hit job, and the true colours of yellow journalists came to the fore.

Mr. Pai, are you, like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited, afraid of standing your ground? She chickened out after criticising Bengaluru’s bad roads — and after government functionaries spoke about alleged pollution near Biocon, she cozied up with the ruling Congress. As you are known for your valour in expressing opinions, you should do a bit of research on News18’s coverage and come up with a stronger, more ‘reasoned critique’ of that media house. We hope you take this advice seriously and term News18’s coverage is also a hit job. 

In March 2024, The Hindu broke the story about a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) case registered against former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa. A few days later, Rajendran was contacted by a reporter (whose name will not be mentioned here) to write more stories related to the same issue. Rajendran decided to pursue it only after conducting a proper study. One of her reporters reportedly argued with her for not taking up the issue. From what we know, Rajendran is committed to journalistic ethics.

In connection with Dharmasthala, hundreds of documents now with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) show suspicious Unnatural Death Report (UDR) patterns. The SIT even examined UDRs registered in Subramanya and other police station limits where temples are located. SIT sources informed this website that no suspicious patterns were found in other police stations, unlike in Dharmasthala and Belthangady. As a responsible journalist, it is one’s duty to find out why, what, how, where, and when. This work simply means “a job,” not “a hit job.” Mr. Pai, you may have to correct your nomenclature.

Moreover, according to the panchayat records, 72 bodies (between 1991 and 2021) were buried on the same day they were found. Karnataka Assembly proceedings show discussions on atrocities in this village. The Ugrappa Committee also flagged suspicious unnatural deaths. These records exist—they are facts. Will you, Mr. Pai, dedicate some time out of your busy schedule to read them? Or will you dismiss them, saying that empires are built on blood?

Like India Today, which interviewed Chinnayya (now accused in the mass burial case—39/2025), The News Minute also interviewed him. Republic Kannada was reportedly upset for not getting this opportunity, as were several other channels. In those interviews, Chinnayya admitted to illegally burying bodies. Can you, Mr. Pai, call India Today’s work a hit job?

The News Minute was, in fact, very conservative in its coverage of the Dharmasthala issue and only published official versions of the SIT. Before the formation of the SIT, the portal had interviewed activists, as well as former Dharmasthala Village Panchayat functionaries, and streamed their views. By far, the coverage was balanced.

On the other hand, a sea of mainstream TV media outlets provided platforms to supporters of influential personalities of Dharmasthala, many of whom lied on multiple counts. A few of those individuals have also been questioned by the SIT. Is this not a hit job, Mr. Pai? Because, based on false premises, these people built a counter-narrative. Please watch the movie State of Play for a better understanding of setting narratives. 

In the absence of strong opposition leaders in the BJP (perhaps due to adjustment politics in Bengaluru), you are now pushed to the front row. You have every right to take on the government on potholes, investment, and infrastructure issues — this is healthy opposition and criticism. Mr. Pai, we know that you did not perform a hit job against Congress at the BJP’s behest.