The peaceful temple town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka has been rocked by shocking allegations of a mass burial cover-up, following claims made by a former sanitation worker. According to the whistleblower, between 1995 and 2014, he was forced to cremate or bury the bodies of women and children—many allegedly victims of abuse or violence.
This explosive revelation came to light on July 3, 2025, when the individual approached the local police with skeletal remains and stated he was ready to show the locations of multiple burial or cremation sites.
Following this, the Karnataka government swiftly acted, filing an FIR on July 4, granting the whistleblower witness protection by July 10, and recording his official court testimony on July 11.
In response to growing public outcry, the state formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on July 19. The SIT is led by DGP Pronab Mohanty and includes DIG Anucheth and SP Dayama, with a mandate to investigate not just the whistleblower’s claims but also historical missing person and assault cases from the area.
The whistleblower has so far identified 15 suspected sites where remains may have been disposed of. Security has been tightened with support from the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) as forensic teams begin examination.
Several rights groups and political leaders have voiced concern. The State Women’s Commission, and MP Sandosh Kumar of CPI, have demanded a central investigation, suggesting the National Investigation Agency (NIA) take over.
Interestingly, the Dharmasthala temple trust has expressed support for the SIT and called for a neutral probe, but a court ruling, sought by relatives of the temple leadership, ordered the takedown of over 8,800 online references to the case. The Supreme Court upheld this gag order for now, though further hearings in the Karnataka High Court are expected.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao assured the public that the government has no intention of shielding anyone and pledged full cooperation. Meanwhile, groups like AIDWA are urging for complete autonomy for the SIT to uncover the full truth behind the claims of decades-long abuse, killings, and secret disposals.