Mangaluru: Ganesh, son of Narayana, a mahout murdered along with his sister in 2012 at Boorje village, Dharmasthala, has once again petitioned the Special Investigation Team (SIT) demanding a thorough probe into the unresolved case.

The double murder took place on September 21, 2012. Despite initial investigations, the culprits were never identified, and police later submitted a “C-report” to the Belthangady court, effectively closing the case.

Push for reinvestigation

Ganesh and his sister Bharati, residents of Meelanthabetta in Belthangady taluk, had earlier approached the SIT on August 18. However, officials declined to investigate, citing that the matter was pending before the Karnataka High Court.

“We have now withdrawn our petition in the High Court and attached a copy of the same with our fresh complaint,” Ganesh told reporters. He said the family continues to have faith in the SIT. “Officials have promised to discuss it with senior officers and take action,” he added.

Allegations of illegal funding, conspiracy

Meanwhile, in a separate petition dated September 9, businessman and devotee Surendra Prabhu urged the SIT to investigate suspected illegal funding, criminal conspiracy, and ‘narrative terrorism’ targeting Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala and its Dharmadhikari, D Veerendra Heggade.

Prabhu alleged that for several years, YouTube channels and social media platforms have been spreading defamatory and misleading content against the temple, extending the propaganda beyond Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, and further amplifying it on national and international channels.

He claimed the activity appeared to be part of a “carefully planned conspiracy.” A copy of his petition was also forwarded to the Income Tax Central Range office, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the SP of Dakshina Kannada.

Broader SIT role

The two petitions add pressure on the SIT, which is already probing sensitive cases linked to Dharmasthala, including the mass burial case. The demand for reinvestigation into the 2012 double murder underscores lingering questions about justice, while the allegations of narrative manipulation highlight growing concerns about digital misinformation campaigns against religious institutions.