In a significant development, a City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru has issued an ex-parte ad-interim mandatory injunction against 332 parties, including media houses, individuals, YouTubers, and social media accounts, instructing them to remove over 8,800 URLs related to the alleged mass burial case registered in Dharmasthala.
The order was passed by 10th Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Vijaya Kumar Rai following a suit filed by Harshendra Kumar D, Secretary of the institutions managed by Sri Manjunathaswamy Temple, Dharmasthala. The plaintiff argued that false and defamatory allegations were being circulated without any factual basis, implicating him, his family, and temple-run institutions.
The court noted, “This is an exceptional case warranting an ex-parte order to prevent further reputational damage.” The URLs listed span digital news platforms, social media platforms like X and Instagram, and several print and digital outlets.
The judge emphasized balancing the constitutional right to free speech with the right to protect one’s reputation. While the FIR (No. 39/2025) mentions burial of multiple bodies within Dharmasthala’s limits, it contains no direct accusations against the plaintiff or his affiliates.
The plaintiff also referenced landmark Supreme Court rulings in Hammad Ahmed vs Abdul Majeed and Dorab Cawasji Warden vs Coomi Sorab Warden, which support the grant of interim injunctions to prevent gross injustice.
The next hearing is set for August 5, with the plaintiff also seeking a permanent injunction and further restraining orders during the trial.