Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Nov 6: The head of Bale Kudru Mutt, Sri Vasudeva Sadashivashrama Swamiji, has reportedly gone missing after an FIR was registered against him and four others for allegedly stealing and selling ancient idols belonging to the mutt. Police have launched a search for the seer, who is suspected to have left the mutt along with its administrative officer and staff after the case was registered at Basaveshwaranagar police station in Bengaluru.
The mutt, located in Bale Kudru in Brahmavar taluk, was reportedly locked from Thursday night, with the Swamiji, administrative officer and staff members allegedly leaving the premises. The development has triggered anger among villagers and devotees, who gathered at the mutt and expressed their displeasure. Devotees said that the daily three-time puja rituals to the deity had been disrupted following the closure of the mutt.
Although some persons said to have arrived from another mutt performed puja on Friday morning, devotees alleged that the rituals were not conducted in accordance with the traditional practices of Bale Kudru Mutt. Local devotees are also reportedly being denied entry into the mutt, said Suresh Adiga, a member of the Mutt Protection Committee.
Pritam Adiga, a disciple of the mutt, alleged that a person claiming to be a sanyasi had been staying at the mutt for the past two years, but local devotees had never accepted him as the Swamiji. Recently, alleged obscene audio conversations purportedly involving the Swamiji went viral. However, his supporters had claimed that the audio clips were fake and generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Despite protests by villagers, he had refused to leave the mutt. Pritam Adiga alleged that several irregularities involving the Swamiji were now coming to light.
He demanded a comprehensive investigation into the present whereabouts and condition of the idols, the exact number of original idols housed in the mutt and the motive behind their alleged sale. He also urged the authorities to investigate whether the case had any links with an international antique idol smuggling network.
According to the complaint lodged by Jagadish Aithal, a disciple of the mutt, at Basaveshwaranagar police station in Bengaluru, cases have been registered against Vasudeva Sadashivashrama Swamiji, mutt administrative officer Anil Kumar Madhyastha, staff members Jayalakshmi and Shreyas, and Nagendra Prasad, owner of an antiques shop in Bengaluru.
The complaint alleges that a person identified as Vasudeva Sadashivashrama had been residing illegally at Bale Kudru Mutt since 2024. It further alleges that several ancient idols, which were part of the daily worship at the mutt, were stolen through a conspiracy involving the Swamiji, the administrative officer and staff members and sold to Nagendra Prasad, owner of 'Idols', a shop in Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru, in 2025.
The idols allegedly sold include the Vallabha Ganapathi idol dating back to the sixth or seventh century, the Shakthi Ganapathi idol, the Lakshmi Narasimha idol belonging to the Vijayanagara period and the Mahishamardini Devi idol dating back to the 12th century.
The complaint further alleges that, after selling the original idols, the accused got replicas made through the same shop and placed the replicas made of wood for worship at the mutt, thereby deceiving devotees and hurting their religious sentiments.
It has sought a detailed investigation into the alleged theft and sale of the idols, as well as the alleged receipt of the stolen idols for illegal financial gain, and demanded appropriate legal action against all those found guilty.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru police have taken Nagendra Prasad, the alleged buyer of the idols, into custody for questioning as part of the investigation. Police are also searching for the Swamiji following the registration of the case and the reported closure of the mutt.
The mutt had already been in the news over opposition from devotees, protests and allegations against the Swamiji. Several devotees have demanded that the ancient idols be brought back to the mutt and that a high-level investigation be conducted into the case.