In response to serious allegations, the Karnataka government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate claims of improper burials in Dharmasthala. Dr. Arun K, the Dakshina Kannada SP, confirmed the transfer of the case to the SIT. The government order, issued on July 19, names DGP Pranab Mohanty of the Internal Security Department as the head of the team. IPS officers M. N. Anuchet, Soumya Latha, and Jitendra Kumar Dayama will also be part of the SIT.
S. Ambika, the Under Secretary of the Home Department, clarified that the government has decided to form the SIT to conduct a detailed investigation into case number 39/2025, registered at the Dharmasthala police station under section 211 (A), BNS.
The Karnataka State Women’s Commission highlighted, in a July 14 letter, a person’s court testimony about burying numerous bodies in the Dharmasthala area. The Commission is taking seriously the family’s statement of a medical student and reports about human skulls found in the area.
The person’s statements pointed to grave offenses like murder, rape, the disappearance of women and girl students, and unnatural deaths. As a result, the Commission recommended the formation of an SIT to ensure a fair and complete investigation, to be overseen by senior officers.
The government determined that an SIT is the appropriate course of action to thoroughly probe the issues brought up by the Women’s Commission and the case filed at the Dharmasthala police station. Moreover, related criminal cases across the state will also be handed over to the SIT.
The SIT will make use of the resources of the Dakshina Kannada District Police Office and will provide real-time updates on the investigation’s status to the DG and IGP. After completing the investigation, the team will deliver a detailed report to the government, through the DG and IGP.