Dharmasthala / Mangaluru, August 2025 — The Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Karnataka government has intensified its probe into the disturbing allegations surrounding mass graves, sexual violence, and institutional cover-ups in Dharmasthala. The case, now under national scrutiny, has taken a new turn with serious accusations of witness intimidation by a member of the SIT itself.
Whistleblower Testimony Triggers National Outrage
The investigation was set in motion in early July when a former sanitation worker submitted a detailed complaint, alleging that between 1995 and 2014, he was coerced into burying and cremating the bodies of women and minors under suspicious circumstances. The witness claimed many victims showed signs of violence, sexual abuse, or homicide, implicating individuals allegedly connected to the Dharmasthala temple administration.
Public outrage followed swiftly, leading to the filing of an FIR at the Dharmasthala Police Station on July 4. The witness was immediately granted protection under the state’s Witness Protection Scheme.
SIT Formed and Begins On-Ground Evidence Collection
Responding to mounting pressure from civil society and human rights groups, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team on July 19, comprising senior IPS officers, including DGP Pronab Mohanty, DIG M. N. Anucheth, DCP Soumyalatha, and SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama.
The SIT began by formally recording the whistleblower’s testimony under judicial supervision. Forensic experts, accompanied by police and legal officials, conducted site inspections along the Netravathi riverbank and nearby forest zones. At least fifteen human bone fragments and personal items, including a PAN card, were recovered from one burial site, raising the possibility of identifying victims.
As exhumation continued across thirteen marked locations, operations were relocated following inconclusive findings at several sites. The search has faced logistical hurdles, including groundwater seepage that has hampered excavation efforts.
Allegations of Witness Intimidation by SIT Officer
The probe took a troubling turn when the witness's legal team filed a formal complaint against Manjunath Goud, an SIT member and officer at Sirsi Police Station. The complaint alleges that the officer threatened the key witness and pressured him to withdraw his testimony.
The Dharmasthala Action Committee, formed to advocate for justice in the case, has demanded the immediate arrest of the officer involved. The committee has warned that if the SIT fails to recover the bodies, they will proceed with independent excavation efforts.
Leak of Witness Statements Raises Serious Concerns
Advocates representing the whistleblower have also accused certain individuals of leaking confidential witness statements to social media platforms, thereby compromising the integrity and security of the investigation. These developments have prompted fresh calls for judicial oversight to ensure that the probe remains impartial and credible.
Demands for Broader Investigation and Legal Oversight
Civil rights organizations, former judges, and women’s advocacy groups have urged the Karnataka government to expand the investigation to include the over 360 unresolved cases of missing and murdered women in the region. Among these is the 2012 rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya, long suspected to be part of the same nexus of crimes.
The Karnataka State Women’s Commission and multiple non-governmental organizations have called for enhanced forensic protocols, witness protection, and an expansion of the SIT’s mandate to revisit past cases linked to the Dharmasthala region.
Government Response and Future Outlook
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has publicly reiterated the government’s commitment to an impartial and exhaustive investigation. He emphasized that no individual, regardless of status or position, will be shielded from accountability.
In parallel, the Supreme Court recently declined to entertain a plea against the Karnataka High Court’s gag order on media reporting related to the case, advising petitioners to seek relief through proper legal channels.
Next Steps
As the SIT continues its high-stakes investigation, the following priorities have been outlined:
- Completion of exhumation across remaining identified burial sites
- Ensuring the safety and confidentiality of key witnesses
- Deployment of advanced forensic tools such as DNA and skeletal analysis
- Broadening the scope of investigation to include unresolved deaths and disappearances
The Dharmasthala case is now one of Karnataka’s most significant and politically sensitive criminal probes in recent memory, with the potential to expose decades of alleged systemic abuse and official negligence.
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