Puttur, 30 September 2026: A BJP-led protest in Puttur on September 29 called for an independent and impartial investigation into the functioning of the Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple Management Committee and Development Committee, including allegations concerning temple properties, demolition of buildings, religious structures, development works, financial transactions, tender procedures and objections raised in the 2024–25 audit report.
Former member of the District Religious Council Muralikrishna Hasantadka, who addressed the protest held near the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial at Kille Maidan, alleged that there was a lack of transparency in the administration of the temple.
He alleged that structures associated with the religious institution were being removed in the name of temple development and said the BJP had remained silent on temple-related issues earlier with the intention of keeping politics away from the institution.
“Given the developments in the temple administration, we have been compelled to stage a protest,” he said.
Hasantadka said representations had already been submitted to officials of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department and complaints had also been submitted to authorities including the Lokayukta. He urged the authorities to conduct a proper investigation and warned that the agitation would be intensified if appropriate action was not taken.
Questions raised over proposed inquiry
Hasantadka also questioned the absence of the Endowment Department's Assistant Commissioner from an inquiry that was expected to take place on September 25.
He sought clarification from the department on why the inquiry did not take place and whether any pressure had prevented it. He said documents and reports obtained under the Right to Information Act had been submitted to officials and added that, if the inquiry was not conducted, steps would be taken to seek an investigation at a higher level.
Claims about earlier development works
Hasantadka also referred to development works undertaken during earlier management committees. He said the committee headed by former president Keshavaprasad Muliya had continued several works initiated during the tenure of the committee headed by N. Sudhakar Shetty.
According to him, the annachatra project, which had remained incomplete during the earlier period, was completed during Keshavaprasad's tenure.
He also said an estimate of around ₹89 lakh had been prepared for developing the tank and its surrounding structure at the Mahalingeshwara Temple, with departmental approval. He claimed that around ₹55 lakh had been collected from devotees for the work and alleged that the amount remained with the present management committee while the tank-related work had not been completed.
Hasantadka further referred to land earmarked for a temple goshala and claimed that around 19 acres had been secured during the previous BJP government period, when Nalin Kumar Kateel was the State BJP president and Sanjeeva Matandoor was the MLA. These claims were made at the protest and would require verification from official records and the concerned authorities.
BJP leaders seek transparency
District BJP vice-president Prasanna Kumar Martha said questions had arisen regarding transparency and alleged political interference in the temple administration.
He said devotees should receive clear information regarding the temple's financial transactions and administration. Referring to the handling of alleged financial irregularities at religious institutions elsewhere, he called for an investigation into the allegations concerning the Mahalingeshwara Temple.
Martha also referred to the contributions made by former MLAs and previous governments towards the development and renovation of the temple, and said such contributions should not be overlooked. He demanded that the allegations currently being raised be investigated and that the facts be placed before devotees and the public.
'Do not turn a religious institution into a political arena'
BJP Rural Mandal leader Dayananda Shetty Ujiremuru, who delivered the introductory remarks, said the party supported the development and renovation of the temple but opposed political interference in religious institutions. He said the facts relating to the temple's administrative functioning should be brought before the public.
“Do not turn a religious institution into a political arena,” he said, adding that the protest was being held with concern over the developments surrounding the temple.
Demand for transparency in temple administration
BJP media spokesperson Rajesh Bannur said the relatively limited public participation in the protest should not be interpreted as a lack of interest among devotees in temple affairs.
He said devotees regarded Sri Mahalingeshwara as the presiding deity of the region and that many people had remained silent because they did not want political controversy surrounding the temple.
Bannur demanded transparency in the temple's financial transactions and development works. He said any allegations of irregularities or political interference should be investigated by the competent authorities and the facts made public.
Memorandum submitted to Religious Endowments Department
A memorandum seeking a comprehensive inquiry into the functioning of the temple management committee and development-related matters was submitted to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department through the Puttur Assistant Commissioner.
Former MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, BJP City Mandal president Shivakumar P.B. and BJP general secretary Lokesh Chakote submitted the memorandum. Matandoor also urged the government to order a judicial inquiry into the issues raised by the protesters.
Key demands in the memorandum
The protesters sought:
- An independent and impartial judicial inquiry into the allegations.
- An Action Taken Report (ATR) on every objection raised in the 2024–25 audit report.
- A special audit of all temple bank accounts, including accounts operated by renovation and development committees.
- Physical verification of temple jewellery, movable assets and immovable properties.
- Verification of permissions, plans, estimates, tenders, bills and payment records relating to demolished buildings and religious structures.
- Verification of the legal validity of the formation of the renovation/development committee and its bank account.
- Measures to protect records, account books, bank documents and temple properties and jewellery until the inquiry is completed.
- Legal action against responsible persons or officials if financial or administrative irregularities are established.
- Consultation with departmental Agama experts and other relevant specialists before taking decisions concerning the temple's religious traditions, rituals, services and devotees' religious sentiments.
Several BJP leaders and former office-bearers participated in the protest, including former Rural Mandal president Saja Radhakrishna Alva, former City Municipal Council president K. Jeevandhar Jain, former Standing Committee chairman Sundar Poojary Badavu, former BJP president S. Appayya Maniyani, former District BJP vice-president Budiyar Radhakrishna Rai, Dr. Prasanna, Suresh Alva and Prasanna Darbe.
Keywords: Puttur Mahalingeshwara Temple, Puttur temple protest, Hindu Religious Endowments Karnataka, temple audit 2024-25, Puttur BJP, Mahalingeshwara Temple administration, Puttur Suddi, Puttur News Today, Citizen News Puttur