A chilling investigation into allegations of mass burials in Dharmasthala, a revered temple town in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, has gripped India, raising questions about decades of alleged crimes and institutional cover-ups. The Karnataka government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has unearthed skeletal remains at multiple sites, intensifying scrutiny on the region’s powerful temple administration and sparking nationwide outrage. The case, triggered by a whistleblower’s explosive testimony, has brought to light a dark history of alleged rapes, murders, and secret burials spanning nearly two decades.
Whistleblower’s Shocking Claims
The controversy erupted on July 3, 2025, when a 48-year-old former sanitation worker, a Dalit who worked at the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple from 1995 to 2014, filed a six-page complaint with the Dakshina Kannada police. The whistleblower alleged he was coerced into burying or burning hundreds of bodies—primarily women and minors—under threats of violence from influential figures linked to the temple administration. His complaint detailed gruesome scenes of bodies bearing signs of rape, strangulation, and acid burns, buried in secret along the Netravathi River and other locations.
Fearing for his life, the whistleblower fled Dharmasthala in 2014 after a family member was allegedly assaulted. He returned in 2025, driven by guilt, and submitted photographic evidence and skeletal remains he had exhumed to support his claims. The complainant, now under witness protection, has offered to identify burial sites and perpetrators, provided his safety is ensured under India’s Witness Protection Scheme, 2018.
SIT Investigation and Findings
Following public outcry and pressure from the Karnataka State Women’s Commission, the state government formed an SIT on July 19, 2025, led by Director General of Police Pranab Mohanty. The team, including senior officers DIG M.N. Anucheth, DCP Soumya Latha, and SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama, was tasked with investigating the alleged mass burials and related crimes across Karnataka.
Excavations began on July 29, 2025, at 15 suspected burial sites identified by the whistleblower, primarily along the Netravathi River and nearby highways. By August 4, the SIT had uncovered partial skeletal remains at Site No. 6, including a broken skull believed to belong to a male, and fragments at Site No. 11-A. Additional finds included a PAN card, a RuPay debit card, and a torn red blouse, though their connection to the case remains under verification. Forensic analysis is ongoing to determine the age, gender, and cause of death of the remains, complicated by advanced decomposition and challenging terrain.
Despite six days of excavation, no definitive evidence of mass burials of women has been confirmed, prompting some to question the whistleblower’s claims. However, the discovery of human remains has fueled demands for a thorough probe.
Historical Context and Public Outrage
Dharmasthala, an 800-year-old pilgrimage center attracting thousands daily, is administered by the influential Heggade family, led by Veerendra Heggade, a Rajya Sabha MP and Padma Vibhushan recipient. The allegations have cast a shadow over the temple’s reputation, with activists and victims’ families linking the current case to unresolved crimes, including the 1987 rape and murder of Padmalatha and the 2012 rape and murder of 17-year-old Soujanya.
The case of Ananya Bhat, a medical student who vanished in 2003 during a college trip to Dharmasthala, has also resurfaced. Her mother, Sujatha Bhat, a retired CBI stenographer, filed a fresh complaint on July 15, 2025, alleging police inaction and hoping her daughter’s remains might be among those uncovered.
Public anger has been compounded by allegations of police collusion and evidence tampering. On August 6, two YouTubers covering the case were attacked in Dharmasthala, and reports surfaced that police records of unidentified deaths from 2000–2015 were deleted. These incidents have raised concerns about the investigation’s integrity, with activists demanding oversight by a national agency like the NIA.
Legal and Political Developments
On August 8, the Supreme Court rejected a plea by Harshendra Kumar D., secretary of the temple management, to impose a media gag order on the case, calling such restrictions super injunctions rare in a democratic society. The Karnataka High Court had previously overturned a similar Bengaluru civil court order on August 1, citing the public interest in transparent reporting.
Political responses have been cautious. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara emphasized the need for a thorough investigation but noted that further action would depend on the SIT’s findings. Some BJP leaders, including R. Ashok and Arvind Bellad, dismissed the allegations as a conspiracy to defame the temple, while others, like former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, welcomed the SIT probe.
The temple administration issued a statement on July 20, supporting a fair and transparent investigation to uncover the truth, while local officials and supporters have denied institutional involvement, citing documented burial processes for unclaimed bodies.
Challenges Ahead
The SIT faces significant hurdles, including monsoon rains, forested terrain, and the advanced decomposition of remains, which complicates forensic identification. The whistleblower’s insistence on personally guiding investigators to sites, citing fears of evidence tampering, underscores the case’s sensitivity.
As the investigation continues, Dharmasthala remains tense, with residents and activists demanding justice not only for the alleged mass burials but also for historical cases like Soujanya’s. The case has sparked a broader debate about power, caste, and institutional accountability in India, with families like Sujatha Bhat’s holding out hope for closure after decades of grief.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as the SIT releases its findings.
