There is a social media controversy in Karnataka over a viral post saying that the Gavimath seer rejected an invitation to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara because of the Baldota factory issue. The police have now said that a phone conversation related to the Dasara invitation was distorted and misleadingly presented on social media.
According to media reports, the issue came to light after a digital media organisation allegedly circulated an altered version of the conversation between Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Koppal Gavimath seer Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji. Koppal Superintendent of Police Sahil Bagla has stated the matter.
The controversy erupted when the viral post suggested that the seer had refused the Chief Minister's invitation because of the dispute around the Baldota factory.
However, the accounts given by the authorities and later reports on the Dasara programme suggest a different sequence of events.
What happened on the phone call?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reportedly contacted the Koppal Gavimath seer to invite him to inaugurate the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
According to the police version, the two spoke over the phone and discussed the invitation. The seer also expressed his views during the conversation.
The important thing, according to the authorities, is that the seer ultimately accepted the invitation after the Chief Minister made the request.
News reports following the government's announcement also confirm that Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji accepted the invitation to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara 2026.
How Did The Viral Controversy Begin?
The phone conversation was also presented in a different context in a post that circulated widely on social media.
The post was said to imply that the Gavimath seer had declined the invitation because of the Baldota factory issue. This immediately triggered a lot of discussion on social media as to whether the seer had actually agreed to inaugurate Dasara.
In some cases, the police said the original conversation was manipulated or distorted in such a way that the content was used to spread false information.
It is important to distinguish between the claims made in the viral post and the later reported official position.
Police Action Over Alleged Fake Information
As per the information of the police, there is an investigation against a digital media company for the circulation of misinformation in the form of false or misleading information.
Koppal SP Sahil Bagla said that social media content did not accurately represent the facts of the conversation.
The police determined that an alleged manipulation of a phone call and its circulation became the focus of the action.
The case demonstrates how edited or selectively presented audio and video material can make things confusing when they are circulated without the full context.
Gavimath Seer to Inaugurate Mysuru Dasara
The controversy comes after the Karnataka government formally selected Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji of Koppal Gavimath to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara 2026.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the decision in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. It is said that the Chief Minister had spoken to the seer personally and that the invitation was accepted.
The official Dasara programme places the inauguration on October 11, 2026, at Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill in Mysuru. The main inauguration is scheduled at 11:50 a.m. according to the report.
Why The Viral Claim Created Confusion
The controversy illustrates how a short clip or edited portion of a longer conversation can potentially create a different impression from the complete exchange.
In this case, the viral claim centred on the Baldota factory issue and suggested that the matter had led the seer to reject the Dasara invitation.
The reported official account, however, says the invitation was accepted. The Chief Minister's subsequent public announcement in the Assembly and reports about the 2026 Dasara programme further support the fact that the seer was selected as the inaugurator.
What Is The Current Status?
Based on the publicly reported information, Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji is scheduled to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara 2026, and reports say he has accepted the State Government's invitation.
The police case concerns the alleged circulation of a distorted version of the phone conversation and the claim that it was used to spread misleading information.
The exact legal outcome of the case will depend on the investigation and subsequent proceedings.
Key Points
- CM D.K. Shivakumar reportedly called the Koppal Gavimath seer to invite him to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara.
- Police have alleged that the phone conversation was distorted before being circulated online.
- A viral post reportedly claimed that the seer rejected the invitation over the Baldota factory issue.
- Subsequent reports state that the seer accepted the invitation.
- Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji is scheduled to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara 2026 on October 11.
- Police have registered a case over the alleged circulation of misleading information.
The episode has once again drawn attention to the importance of checking the full context of viral audio, video, and social media claims before treating them as facts.
