Dharmasthala case: Vakalatnama filed on behalf of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala at Belthangady court
Belthangady: In connection with the Dharmasthala case that has attracted nationwide attention, a vakalatnama has been filed on behalf of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala before the Belthangady court.
Senior advocate C. V. Nagesh from Bengaluru and advocate Mahesh Kaje from Puttur have filed the vakalatnama in relation to Case No. 39/2025 registered at the Dharmasthala Police Station. On December 31, the advocates appeared before the Belthangady court and presented arguments on behalf of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala. After hearing the submissions, the court adjourned the matter to January 3.
An SIT is currently investigating the case and has submitted a report to the Belthangady court. In its report, the SIT has alleged that a conspiracy was hatched against Dharmasthala and has named six individuals in this regard. However, no action has so far been taken against the accused. The SIT’s application seeking permission to proceed against them is still pending before the court.
This marks the first time that Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala has directly joined the proceedings and presented arguments in the case.
Speaking to the media after the hearing, advocate Mahesh Kaje stated that the vakalatnama was filed on behalf of Dharmasthala in the capacity of a victim. He said the temple has been repeatedly referred to in the case and, as an affected party, should be given an opportunity to participate directly in the proceedings. Accordingly, an application has been filed seeking permission to present arguments on behalf of Dharmasthala.
The court has fixed January 3 as the next date of hearing. Supporting documents have been submitted, and no objections have been raised so far. It was also stated that allegations had earlier been made against Dharmasthala in a public interest litigation filed before the Supreme Court, in which the institution was explicitly named.
In light of this, Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala has sought permission to participate in the case as a victim and present its submissions. Further legal steps will be taken based on the court’s subsequent orders.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
