Udupi: A case has been registered against the seer of Bale Kudru Math in Brahmavar taluk and four others over allegations of stealing four ancient idols used for worship at the Math and selling them to a shop in Bengaluru.

The case was registered at Basaveshwaranagar Police Station in Bengaluru following a complaint lodged by Jagadish Aithal, a disciple of the Math. The accused include Vasudeva Sadashivashrama Swamiji, Math administrator Anil Kumar Madhyastha, staff members Jayalakshmi and Shreyas, and shop owner Nagendra Prasad.

Following the registration of the case, fresh allegations have emerged that the seer and the Math staff locked the premises and left the place. The Math has reportedly remained closed since Wednesday night, triggering protests by local residents and devotees.

Math locked, devotees express anger

The reported closure of Bale Kudru Math has caused concern among devotees, who alleged that regular religious activities and the three daily worship rituals had come to a halt.

Some individuals, reportedly belonging to another Math, performed puja on Thursday morning. However, devotees claimed that the rituals were not conducted in accordance with the traditional practices followed at Bale Kudru Math.

Local devotees also alleged that they were prevented from entering the premises after the Math was locked. Several residents and devotees gathered outside the institution and staged protests, expressing their displeasure over the developments.

The situation has raised concerns among the local community, particularly over the interruption of daily worship and uncertainty surrounding the management of the religious institution.

Disciples raise questions over seer’s identity and conduct

Pritam Adiga, a disciple of the Math, alleged that a person claiming to be a sanyasi had been staying at Bale Kudru Math for the past two years, but local devotees had never accepted him as the seer.

He also referred to the recent circulation of alleged obscene audio conversations attributed to the seer. According to Pritam, those supporting the seer had claimed that the audio clips were fabricated using artificial intelligence (AI).

He alleged that the seer had refused to leave the Math despite protests by villagers and said that several alleged irregularities were now coming to light.

Suresh Adiga, a member of the Math Protection Committee, said that the seer, administrator and staff members had left the premises after the FIR was registered in Bengaluru.

He alleged that their departure had left the Math locked and disrupted the regular religious activities. The committee members and devotees have expressed concern over the functioning of the institution and demanded clarity from the authorities.

Complaint alleges theft of four ancient idols

According to the complaint lodged by Jagadish Aithal, Vasudeva Sadashivashrama had been residing at Bale Kudru Math without authorisation since 2024.

The complaint alleges that four ancient idols used for daily worship at the Math were stolen in 2025 as part of a conspiracy involving the seer, Math administrator and staff members.

It further alleges that the original idols were sold to Nagendra Prasad, the owner of a shop named ‘Idols’ in Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru.

The four idols mentioned in the complaint are:

  • Vallabha Ganapathi: An ancient idol believed to date back to the 6th–7th centuries.
  • Shakti Ganapathi: Also believed to date back to the 6th–7th centuries.
  • Lakshmi Narasimha: An idol belonging to the Vijayanagara period.
  • Mahishamardini Devi: An ancient idol believed to date back to the 12th century.

The complaint further alleges that replicas of the original idols were subsequently made through the same Bengaluru shop and placed inside the Math for worship.

According to the complainant, the alleged replacement was intended to conceal the disappearance of the original idols, deceive devotees and hurt their religious sentiments.

The allegations have raised questions about the security and preservation of the ancient religious artefacts belonging to the Math.

Demand for investigation into possible antique smuggling links

The complainant has sought a comprehensive investigation into the alleged theft and sale of the four idols, including the involvement of those suspected of facilitating the transaction for financial gain.

Pritam Adiga has also demanded that the authorities establish the present whereabouts of the original idols and determine how many other ancient idols are preserved at the Math.

He has called for an investigation into whether the alleged incident has any links to a larger international antique smuggling network.

The demand also includes identifying everyone involved in the alleged theft, transportation and sale of the idols and initiating appropriate legal action against those found guilty.

The case has drawn attention to the preservation of ancient idols and the administration of religious institutions. Meanwhile, the reported closure of Bale Kudru Math and the disruption of daily worship have added to the concerns of devotees and residents.

The allegations are yet to be established through investigation. The police probe is expected to ascertain the authenticity of the claims, trace the original idols and determine the individual roles of the five accused.