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{{Short description|Police investigation in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
[[File:Dharmasthala temple, karnataka.jpg|thumb|[[Dharmasthala Temple]]]]
In July 2025, an investigation into allegations of murders and [[mass grave|mass burials]] in the [[India]]n temple town of [[Dharmasthala]], Karnataka, was opened.<ref name="Sharma-2025" /> The chief complainant alleged that he was coerced into burying over one hundred bodies of women and minors, many bearing signs of sexual violence, and witnessed poor beggars tied to chairs and suffocated with towels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Asma-Sadeque |first=Samira |date=25 July 2025 |title=Hundreds Were Allegedly Raped, Killed at Temple — and Whistleblower Says He Buried Them |url=https://people.com/dharmasthala-india-temple-hundreds-allegedly-raped-murdered-says-whistleblower-11779458 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> In another complaint in August 2025, a local activist alleged that he observed a body being buried fifteen years earlier. The temple has long been the subject of protests by local families and political groups, including demonstrations in 2012 following the murder of a teenage girl.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was created to probe the allegations. The complainant identified thirteen burial spots at which the SIT began the process of exhuming bodies. As of 4 August 2025, eleven sites have been excavated among the thirteen identified by the complainant. No human remains have been found at nine sites, one of them has yielded a partial skeleton, and a human skull and bones were found at another. On 23 August 2025, the complainant was arrested for perjury for lying on oath and his identity was revealed. However, the SIT said that investigation will continue and would be expanded to vet FIRs filed elsewhere in Karnataka and neighboring states about the "disappearance of pilgrims" visiting the temple town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SIT to expand Dharmasthala mass burial probe, to examine missing women and suspicious deaths |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/sit-set-to-expand-probe-in-dharmasthala-case-3702072 |access-date=2025-08-29 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
Dharmasthala temple has been the subject of protests led by local families and political groups concerning sexual violence, murder victims, and burials since the 1980s, frequently concerning suppression by political figures.<ref name="Sharma-2025" /> Protests occurred again in 2012 following the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl. Her case was investigated by the police, the Criminal Investigation Department of Karnataka, and the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]]. Her family alleged that the offender was associated with the temple's leadership. The CBI Special Court found no evidence against the defendant and acquitted them in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=H. S. |first=Shreyas |date=28 July 2023 |title=Mystery of Dharmasthala: Eleven years and many probes later, no trace of Soujanya's killer Premium |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/eleven-years-and-many-probes-later-no-trace-of-the-killers-of-this-teen/article67043108.ece |access-date=6 August 2025 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> The family of the aggrieved asked for another CBI investigation, but the [[Karnataka High Court]] rejected the plea.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chauhan |first=Bala |date=2023-06-17 |title=CBI court acquits main accused in Sowjanya murder case |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2023/Jun/17/cbi-court-acquits-main-accused-in-sowjanya-murder-case-2585775.html |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Sharma-2025">{{cite web|title= How an Indian temple town is at the centre of hundreds of alleged murders|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/22/why-is-india-investigating-alleged-mass-killings-of-sexual-assault-victims|website=Al Jazeera|date=22 July 2025|last=Sharma|first=Yashraj|access-date=23 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724132908/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/7/22/why-is-india-investigating-alleged-mass-killings-of-sexual-assault-victims |archive-date=July 24, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Kathju-2025">{{cite web|title= Mass grave scandal, cover-up claims rock southern Indian state|url= https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319080/mass-grave-scandal-cover-claims-rock-southern-indian-state|website=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=22 July 2025|last=Kathju|first=Junaid|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref> Dharmasthala did not have a police station until 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dev |first=Arun |date=25 July 2025 |title=Tough challenges await SIT probing mass burial claims in Dharmasthala |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tough-challenges-await-sit-probing-mass-burial-claims-in-dharmasthala-101753383724270.html |access-date=25 July 2025 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |publisher= |location=[[Bengaluru]]}}</ref>

=== Allegation of mass burial ===
On 22 June 2025, lawyers Ojaswi Gowda and Sachin S Deshpande of Bengaluru released a letter stating that they had a client who was willing to reveal the locations of the bodies of the victims of rape and murder that he had buried himself. <ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2025 |title=Explosive letter goes viral: Alleges murders, cover-ups in Dharmasthala; claims bodies were hidden |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1284236 |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=Daijiworld |language=en}}</ref>

On 3 July 2025, a 48-year-old man who previously worked as a sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala temple, said he had been forced to bury hundreds of bodies between 1995 and 2014,<ref name="The-Hindu-2025a">{{Cite news |date=2025-07-15 |title=Dharmasthala burial case: Advocates of complainant favour SIT probe |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/dharmasthala-burial-case-advocates-of-complainant-favour-sit-probe/article69814561.ece |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language= |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2025-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721095517/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/dharmasthala-burial-case-advocates-of-complainant-favour-sit-probe/article69814561.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sharma-2025" /> under the threat of death.<ref name="Pavithran-2025">{{Cite web |last=Pavithran |first=Lekshmy |date=2025-07-18 |title=Who is the whistle‑blower? He buried the bodies—now he's exposing a dark Dharmasthala secret |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/dharmasthala-horror-unfolds-mass-graves-rape-and-missing-women-cover-up-shock-india-1.500203332 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721095841/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/dharmasthala-horror-unfolds-mass-graves-rape-and-missing-women-cover-up-shock-india-1.500203332 |archive-date=2025-07-21|access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Gulf News |language=en}}</ref> The man, whose identity has been protected by a court, said he has been in hiding for 12 years.<ref name="Sharma-2025" />

He said victims, who included a schoolchild and a 20-year-old [[acid attack]] victim, were buried along the Netravathi River,<ref name="Pavithran-2025"/> and that many female bodies bore signs of strangulation<ref name="Pavithran-2025"/> and sexual assault.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Fatimah |first=Midhat |date=25 July 2025 |title=India: Did temple officials cover up a mass murder? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/did-indian-temple-officials-cover-up-a-mass-murder/a-73415185 |access-date=26 June 2025 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> On 28 July, he identified the 13 burial sites where he claimed he had buried the bodies.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kava |first1=Shivani |last2=Ganeshan |first2=Balakrishna |date=2025-07-28 |title=Dharmasthala burial case: Whistleblower takes SIT to 13 alleged grave sites |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/dharmasthala-burial-case-whistleblower-takes-sit-to-13-alleged-grave-sites-2 |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> The mother of Ananya Bhat, who went missing during a college trip in 2003, said she thought her daughter could be among the victims.<ref name="Pavithran-2025" /><ref name="Kathju-2025" />

Another witness appeared before a court in August 2025. Jayanth T, a social activist, said he had knowledge of where a teenage girl's body had been buried in 2005. The witness said he was related to another person who had been murdered in Dharmasthala.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutinho |first=Divya |date=2025-08-02 |title=Dharmasthala mass burial Case: New witness appears before SIT, claims teen's body buried illegally |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2025/Aug/02/dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-new-witness-appears-before-sit-claims-teens-body-buried-illegally |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

=== Gag order ===
On 18 July,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-02 |title=Karnataka HC quashes gag order on online media channel over Dharmasthala case reports |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-hc-quashes-gag-order-online-media-channel-over-dharmasthala-case-reports-10165233/ |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Judge Vijaya Kumar Rai B granted a [[gag order]] removing over 800 online links related to the Dharmasthala case. The gag order was lifted in early August, with the judge questioning the previous judge's basis for the gag order.<ref name=":3" /> Journalists and activists highlighted that the judge had been educated at institutions run by the Dharmasthala temple, and worked as a lawyer at a firm representing the family who own the temple.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sheth |first1=Anisha |last2=Rajendran |first2=Dhanya |date=2025-08-03 |title=Judge who passed gag order studied in Veerendra Heggade-run institution, points out journalist |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/judge-who-passed-gag-order-studied-in-veerendra-heggade-run-institution-points-out-journalist |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> On 4 August, the judge [[Recusal|recused]] himself from the proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-04 |title=Judge recuses himself from hearing Dharmasthala 'mass burial' case |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/breaking-judge-recuses-himself-from-hearing-dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-alqf0zx2 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
The complaints and resulting pressure from public outrage resulted in a police case against the temple authorities being opened on 4 July.<ref name="Pavithran-2025" /><ref name="The-Hindu-2025a" /><ref name="Sharma-2025" /> The complainant was granted police protection on 10 July,<ref name="The-Hindu-2025b">{{Cite news |date=2025-07-12 |title=Burial of bodies in Dharmastala: Complainant produces some skeletal remains |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/burial-of-bodies-in-dharmastala-complainant-produces-some-skeletal-remains/article69803550.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716022337/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/burial-of-bodies-in-dharmastala-complainant-produces-some-skeletal-remains/article69803550.ece |archive-date=2025-07-16 |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and on 11 July, he provided the remains of a body he said he had exhumed.<ref name="The-Hindu-2025b" />

S. Balan, a senior lawyer and human rights activist, led a delegation of lawyers to meet Karnataka Chief Minister [[Siddaramaiah]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fatimah |first=Midhat |date=5 August 2025 |title=Did Indian temple officials cover up a mass murder? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/did-indian-temple-officials-cover-up-a-mass-murder/a-73415185 |access-date=5 August 2025 |work=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> after which the case was transferred to a [[Special Investigation Team (India)|Special Investigation Team]] (SIT) led by [[Director general of police|Director General of Police]] Pronab Mohanty.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-25 |title=SIT takes over Dharmasthala burials case, to question complainant |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/sit-takes-over-burials-case-to-question-complainant/article69855956.ece |access-date=2025-07-30 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last1=Pinto |first1=Nolan Patrick |date=26 July 2025 |title=SIT commences Dharmasthala 'secret burials' probe, full officer roster revealed |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/karnataka/sit-commences-dharmasthala-secret-burials-probe-full-officer-roster-revealed/ |access-date=26 July 2025 |website=The South First |language=en-In}}</ref>

=== Excavations ===
Excavation at five locations along the Nethravathi River—conducted in the presence of officials, police personnel, forensic staff, and revenue department staff—found no human remains.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raj |first=Sagay |date=2025-07-29 |title=Dharmasthala mass burial case: No human remains found at first exhumation site |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ktaka-excavation-likely-at-dharmasthala-mass-burial-site-as-sit-anf-reach-location-with-whistleblowers-input-2762919-2025-07-29 |access-date=2025-07-30 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raj |first=Sagay |date=2025-07-30 |title=Another dig, another dud in Dharmasthala case: No human remains at five sites |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-no-human-remains-found-at-first-2-sites-in-probe-sit-begins-exhumation-at-third-location-2763537-2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> Partial skeletal remains were found on 31 July at a sixth excavation site, at a depth of three feet; an initial report suggested they were male.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Shivani |first1=Kava |last2=Prasanna |first2=Pooja |date=2025-07-31 |title=Breakthrough in Dharmasthala case: Human remains found at Spot 6 |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/breakthrough-in-dharmasthala-case-human-remains-found-at-spot-6 |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2025-07-31 |title=Dharmasthala mass burial case: Partial skeletal remains found at sixth site |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dharmasthala-burial-partial-skeletal-remains-found-at-sixth-site/article69877516.ece |access-date=2025-07-31 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> SIT officials said they found fifteen bones, no skull, and that some bones were broken.<ref name=":2" /> No remains were found at a seventh and eighth site, where digging was done six feet deep. About 60 persons including 20 labourers, the complainant, and his legal representatives were present.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharmasthala Probe: No Human Remains Found at 7th and 8th Sites, SIT to Resume Digging |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/dharmasthala-case-no-remains-found-at-7th-and-8th-sites-3661875 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Karnataka Crime Probe: SIT Finds No Remains at Dharmasthala Sites Amid New Murder Complaint |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/dharmasthala-mass-burials-no-human-remains-traced-in-two-sites-man-complains-to-sit-on-15-yr-old-murder-3662825 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> At the ninth and tenth spots identified by the complainant in a forested area, no human remains were found. At an eleventh site near Banglegudde, a human skull and a few bones were found.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-04 |title=Skeletal remains found at new location near Site No. 11 in Dharmasthala |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/skeletal-remains-found-at-new-location-near-site-no-11-in-dharmasthala/article69894334.ece |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref> At the fourteenth site, over 114 bones and a skull were found; preliminary reports suggested that the remains belonged to a human male, who was possibly strangled with a red sari found nearby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavithran |first=Lekshmy |date=2025-08-05 |title=100 bone fragments and skull found at Dharmasthala site — India's chilling mass grave mystery explained |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/indias-mass-burial-case-dharmasthala-probe-uncovers-100-bone-fragments-1.500223230 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Gulf News |language=en}}</ref>

A [[Permanent account number|PAN]] card and debit card were found at one of the excavated sites. The PAN card was found to belong to a man from Nelamangala in [[Bengaluru Rural district|Bengaluru rural district]]. He had died of jaundice and was cremated in his own village.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-02 |title=The Dharmasthala truth: As Karnataka SIT digs deeper, more skeletons tumble out; here's what we know so far |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/the-dharmasthala-truth-as-karnataka-sit-digs-deeper-more-skeletons-tumble-out-heres-what-we-know-so-far/articleshow/123038076.cms |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Legal experts and activists have criticised the investigation as nontransparent and too small.<ref name="Pavithran-2025" /><ref name="The-Hindu-2025b" /> A court granted an injunction requested by a relative of temple leadership staff, requesting the suppression of over 8,800 items of coverage about the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chandrashekar |first=Nandini |date=2025-07-21 |title=Dharmasthala temple Dharmadhikari's brother gets gag order to delete over 8,800 links |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/dharmasthala-temple-dharmadhikaris-brother-gets-gag-order-to-delete-over-8800-links |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=The News Minute |language=en |editor-last1=Rajendran |editor-first1=Dhanya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727052654/https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/dharmasthala-temple-dharmadhikaris-brother-gets-gag-order-to-delete-over-8800-links |archive-date=2025-07-27}}</ref> The police denied media reports suggesting that some officers had requested to be excluded from the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-21 |title=Dharmasthala burials case: 'No police officer has sought to be excluded from SIT' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dharmasthala-burials-case-no-police-officer-has-sought-to-be-excluded-from-sit/article69838140.ece |access-date=2025-07-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Whistleblower arrest and identity reveal ===
On 23 August 2025, the SIT arrested the chief complainant for perjury and remanded him ten days in SIT custody. The complainant had allegedly produced skull and bones in a meeting before a magistrate claiming that they belonged to a woman but forensic testing revealed that they were that of a male.<ref name="d054">{{cite web |author=The Hindu Bureau |date=August 23, 2025 |title=Dharmasthala ‘mass burial’ case: SIT arrests complainant for perjury |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-complainant-arrested-august-23-2025/article69967592.ece |access-date=August 25, 2025 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-24 |title=Dharmasthala mass burial case: Whistleblower arrested by SIT |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-whistleblower-arrested-by-sit/articleshow/123466377.cms |access-date=2025-08-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The identity of the complainant was also subsequently revealed due to the arrest.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-24 |title=Dharmasthala mass burial case: First images of complainant revealed after arrest |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/dharmasthala-mass-burial-case-first-image-of-whistleblower-revealed-sit-arrests-him-over-false-claims/articleshow/123466930.cms |access-date=2025-08-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Legal cases==
The creator of an AI-generated [[YouTube]] video was charged with spreading misinformation by the Dakshina Kannada police in July.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-14 |title=Dharmasthala burial case: Kannada YouTuber booked for spreading AI-generated 'false' information |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/dharmasthala-burial-case-kannada-youtuber-booked-for-spreading-ai-generated-false-information-101752464735477.html |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> On 1 August, Karnataka Home Minister [[G. Parameshwara]] said the government was monitoring social media posts, and warned users against spreading misinformation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-01 |title=Dharmasthala case: Government monitoring social media posts; will take action if required, says Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dharmasthala-case-government-monitoring-social-media-posts-will-take-action-if-required-says-karnataka-home-minister-parameshwara/article69882765.ece |access-date=2025-08-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Dakshina Kannada district]]
[[Category:Mass graves]]
[[Category:Rape in India]]
[[Category:Mass murders in India]]
[[Category:2020s in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Scandals in India]]

Dharmasthala mass burial case - Revision history

AdrianneKinne08: Added stub