Dharmasthala Case: SIT arrests Whistleblower

The Karnataka SIT on Saturday arrested the complainant who had alleged there were multiple murders, rapes and burials in Dharmasthala over a period of the past two decades. The state government has formed the SIT to investigate these charges. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) and its chief, Pranab Mohanty, have questioned the complainant—whose name is not revealed—on Friday till late hours. Officials said the arrest was made after inconsistencies were found in the statements and documents provided. The SIT is continuing its probe into the matter. The complainant-witness was taken to a hospital for medical examination after long hours of questioning.

The accused, who had claimed to have worked in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014, filed a complaint on July 3 stating that he had been forced to dispose of the bodies of people who were allegedly victims of crimes such as murder and sexual assault. On July 11, he appeared before a magistrate, recorded his statement and handed over skeletal remains that he said he had exhumed himself.

As per information, he had initially claimed the remains belonged to a woman. However, a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report later confirmed the remains to be male, prompting investigators to book him for perjury. The whistleblower had been under the Witness Protection Scheme since his complaint, but the protection was withdrawn on Friday night before he was taken in for questioning. He was formally arrested on Saturday.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) said it had unearthed 15 bones — suspected to be human — from a forested patch near the Netravathi river earlier this month. The remains, believed to be of a man, were dug out from the sixth of 13 locations. A forensic expert at the site offered a preliminary opinion suggesting the bones were male, though officials stressed a full examination was needed before confirmation. “Forensic doctors and the scene-of-crime officers seized the body parts after noting down the details, including the location and the way the parts were found,” an SIT officer said.

(State Correspondent)