In a major development that has shaken the Panchamasali Lingayat community, 13 out of 15 trustees of the Panchamasali Jagadguru Peetha voted to expel Jagadguru Sri Vachanananda Mahaswamiji on April 13, 2026.

The trustees, led by Chandrashekhar Pujari and others, accused the swamiji of failing to focus on the peetha’s development, despite having been installed eight years ago with the mandate to uplift the community and build educational institutions.

Instead, they claimed, he devoted himself entirely to promoting his personal Shwaasa Yoga activities.

The most serious allegations centre on a hostel built two years ago for around 60 underprivileged Panchamasali boys.

Trustees alleged that the swamiji repeatedly called the boys for massage sessions due to “vikrutha bhava” (distorted feelings), causing mental harassment.

As a result, most students left the hostel; only five remain.

One specific case involves a First PUC student who was allegedly pulled out of college and kept as the swamiji’s full-time personal attendant, prompting complaints from the boy’s parents.

On the financial front, the trustees dismissed the swamiji’s demand for accounts, stating that all records from 2008 to 2020 are audited and will be made public on the peetha’s website.

They said the accounts were recently reviewed by the beneficiaries’ association president, who found nothing irregular.

Vachanananda Swamiji has strongly denied the charges, terming the removal a “pre-planned conspiracy” by trustees to silence his push for financial transparency.

He insists that only his devotees can decide his position and has refused to leave the peetha.

The controversy led to protests by the swamiji’s supporters outside the mutt.

The police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the CrPC and detained over 100 devotees to maintain order.

Tension continues in the Harihara area.

No formal police complaint has been filed yet on the personal conduct allegations, though the trustees’ statements have gone viral across Kannada media.

The situation remains fluid as both sides hold firm.