The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition by YouTube channel Third Eye challenging a Bengaluru civil court’s ex-parte gag order that barred 390 media outlets from publishing allegedly defamatory content about Harshendra Kumar D, brother of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, and Sri Manjunathaswamy Temple institutions. The order, issued on July 20, 2025, demanded the removal of 8,842 links related to the Dharmasthala burial case, which involves allegations of mass murders of women and girls in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka.

A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, alongside Justices K. Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi, directed the petitioner to first approach the Karnataka High Court, stating, “Go to the High Court first.” The plea argued the order violated free speech under Article 19(1)(a) and impeded a state-mandated Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, launched on July 21, 2025, into claims of hundreds of bodies being buried or burned under the temple administration’s supervision. The SIT followed complaints, including one by a mother alleging her daughter’s murder.

Harshendra Kumar, the temple’s executive coordinator, claimed the media content was defamatory and lacked evidence, as no FIR directly named him or the temple. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara emphasized a thorough investigation is ongoing, urging restraint until findings are clear. The Supreme Court’s stance aligns with its cautious approach to gag orders, as seen in prior rulings like Rehana Fathima (2021), prioritizing legal process over immediate intervention.

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