Trust accuses Dharmadhikari of land-grabbing

[email protected] (CD Network)
October 15, 2013
somanatha1
Mangalore, Oct 15: Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade has landed in a yet another controversy, with Nagarika Seva Trust President Somanatha Nayak alleging that he has furnished false declarations before Land Tribunal.

Speaking to media persons on Tuesday in Mangalore Mr Nayak said that as per the land declaration made by Heggade in the year 1974 he holds 4, 671 acre agriculture land in which 3, 620 acre land was given to tenants. Out of 1,051 acre land, only 137 acre land is farm land. In the declaration, Mr Heggade claimed that the land had been divided into deemed conversion land, plantation land and converted land.

“However, an agriculture land cannot be declared as'Deemed' without government's order. Though there was no government order regarding Mr Heggade's land which was declared as'deemed' and no spot inspection by AC conducted,” he alleged.

He also alleged government had given around 44 acre of DC Manna land for the purpose Dharmasthala Education Trust and Siddavana Gurukula run by Mr Heggade. As per the rules, the Trust should have allocated alternative land to be distributed among dalit beneficiaries.

However, Mr Heggade violated the rule not earmarking the land for dalits. He also demanded the government to direct Mr Heggade to earmark alternative land for the poor.

Mr Nayak also alleged that around 42.05 acre government land on different survey numbers in Ujire village has been leased out to Sri Dharmasthala Education Trust for 30 years for an annual fee of Rs 420 per cents in 1970. It was on April 1, 2008, the Deputy Commisioner continued the lease for 30 years for an annual fee of Rs 9, 500 per cents. By leasing out the land for such a low price when the market value per cent is Rs five lakh to Rs seven lakh, the government is incurring a huge loss to the exchequer. At the same time, when renewing the lease period, the name of the leasee has been changed from Sri Dharmasthala Education Trust to Society, which amount to violation of rules,” he claimed.

‘Make income details public'

Mr Nayak said that Heggade should make public the income of Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala. “Income details from the rented shops in the temple premises, lodges, special pooja and money order should make public as he claimed in an interview to a private news channel that he was transparent,” he said.

‘Hold secret voting'

Mr Nayak also challenged that Veerendra Heggade should hold secret voting in Belthangady taluk to find out how many people favour him. “Then he may realize the feelings of people,” he said.

He also maintained that he is not fighting against the temple or the believes of the people.

“We are also devotees. But, we won't tolerate injustice in the name of God,” he asserted.

‘Probe 452 suicide cases and 16 murder cases in Dharmasthala in 11 years'

He also said that the CBI should investigate all 452 suicide cases and 16 murder cases happened in Dharmasthala in the last 11 years. The arrested Santhosh should be subjected to narco analysis test to find out the truth behind the rape and murder of Saujanya,” he added.

‘Will rise issue in the UNO'

Federation of Indian Rationalists' Association President Prof Narendra Nayak said that if need arises, then incidents of human rights violation in the name of God and religion will be raised in the United Nations Organistaion.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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