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Dharmasthala mass burial case

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Dharmasthala Temple

The Dharmasthala mass burial case is an ongoing investigation into allegations in July 2025, concerning in the Indian temple town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka state. A complainant has alleged that he was forced to bury more than a hundred bodies of women and minors, which showed signs of sexual violence. He has also alleged that poor beggars in the area were tied to chairs and suffocated using towels, in his presence[1]. Another witness, a local activist, has alleged in August 2025 that he observed a body and a burial 15 years ago. The temple has been subject to protests by local families and political groups. Protests occurred in 2012 over the murder of a teenage girl.

As of August 2, 2025, ten sites have been excavated. No human remains have been found at the 9 sites, one of them has yielded a partial skeleton of a male. A gag order issued in July was later overturned by another court in August, and an arrest was made over misinformation involving an AI-generated video.

Background

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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.[2] Protests occurred again in 2012 following the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl named Sowjanya; her family alleged that the offender was associated with the temple's leadership.[2][3] Dharmasthala did not have a police station until 2016.[4]

Allegation of mass burial

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On June 22, 2025, lawyers Ojaswi Gowda and Sachin S Deshpande of Bengaluru released a letter stating that they have a client who is willing to reveal the locations of the bodies of the victims of rape and murder he had buried himself. [5]

On July 3, 2025, a 48-year-old Dalit 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,[6][2] under the threat of death.[7] The man, whose identity has been protected by a court, said he has been in hiding for 12 years.[2]

He said victims, who included a schoolchild and a 20-year-old acid attack victim, were buried along the Netravathi River,[7] and that many female bodies bore signs of strangulation,[7] and sexual assault.[8] The mother of Ananya Bhat, who went missing during a college trip in 2003, said she thought her daughter could be among the victims.[7][3]

Another witness appeared before a court in August 2025. Jaylan S, 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.[9]

Gag order

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On July 18,[10] Judge Vijaya Kumar Rai B granted a gag order removing over 800 online links related to the Dharmasthala case. The order was appealed; 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.[11] The gag order was lifted in early August, with the judge questioning the previous judge's basis for the gag order.[10]

Investigation

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The complaints have triggered widespread controversy.[7] Pressure from public outrage and controversy resulted in a police investigation.[2] A police case was opened on July 4.[6] The complainant was granted police protection on July 10.[12] On July 11, they provided the remains of a body he said he exhumed personally.[12]

S. Balan, a senior lawyer and human rights activist, led a delegation of lawyers to meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged rapes, mass murders allegations against the temple authorities. [13] On July 10, the complainant was granted cover and protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018.

On July 19, the case was transferred to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Director General of Police Pronab Mohanty.[14][15] The Dharmasthala temple authorities welcomed the SIT probe into the case.[16]

Excavations

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Excavation at the first location along the Nethravathi River—conducted in presence of the officials, police personnel, forensic staff, and revenue department staff—found no human remains.[17] No human remains were found at the second, third, fourth and the fifth site.[18] At the sixth excavation site, partial skeletal remains were found on July 31, located around three feet into the earth. It is not known which bones were found, but an initial report suggested they were male.[19][20] SIT officials said they found only body parts, no skull, and that some bones were broken.[20] No remains were found at the 7th and 8th site. Digging was done six feet deep using machinery. About 60 persons including 20 labourers were present.[21] According to the Deccan Herald, the complainant and his legal representatives were present alongside police authorities.[22] The SIT excavated the ninth and 10th spots identified by the complainant in the forest area. No human remains were found.[23]

A PAN card and a RuPay debit card were found from one of the excavated sites. The PAN card was found to belong to a man from Nelamangala in Bengaluru rural district. He died of jaundice and was cremated in his own village.[24]

Legal experts and activists have criticised the investigation as not transparent and too small.[7][12] 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.[25] The police denied media reports suggesting that some officers had requested to be excluded from the investigation.[26]

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An AI-generated minute video which obtained millions of views by July 14.[27] The creator was charged by Dakshina Kannada police for spreading misinformation. On Aug. 1, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the government was monitoring social media posts and warned users against spreading misinformation.[28]

References

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  1. ^ Samira Asma-Sadeque, People, July 25, 2025
  2. ^ a b c d e Sharma, Yashraj (22 July 2025). "How an Indian temple town is at the centre of hundreds of alleged murders". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b Kathju, Junaid (22 July 2025). "Mass grave scandal, cover-up claims rock southern Indian state". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  4. ^ Dev, Arun (25 July 2025). "Tough challenges await SIT probing mass burial claims in Dharmasthala". Hindustan Times. Bengaluru. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  5. ^ Explosive letter goes viral: Alleges murders, cover-ups in Dharmasthala; claims bodies were hidden, Daijiworld, Mon, Jun 23 2025
  6. ^ a b "Dharmasthala burial case: Advocates of complainant favour SIT probe". The Hindu. 15 July 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Pavithran, Lekshmy (18 July 2025). "Who is the whistle‑blower? He buried the bodies—now he's exposing a dark Dharmasthala secret". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  8. ^ Fatimah, Midhat (25 July 2025). "India: Did temple officials cover up a mass murder?". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  9. ^ Cutinho, Divya (2 August 2025). "Dharmasthala mass burial Case: New witness appears before SIT, claims teen's body buried illegally". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Karnataka HC quashes gag order on online media channel over Dharmasthala case reports". The Indian Express. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  11. ^ Rajendran, Anisha Sheth,Dhanya (3 August 2025). "Judge who passed gag order studied in Veerendra Heggade-run institution, points out journalist". The News Minute. Retrieved 3 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ a b c "Burial of bodies in Dharmastala: Complainant produces some skeletal remains". The Hindu. 12 July 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  13. ^ [https://www.dw.com/en/did-indian-temple-officials-cover-up-a-mass-murder/a-73415185 Did Indian temple officials cover up a mass murder? Midhat Fatimah, Deutsche Welle, July 28, 2025]
  14. ^ "SIT takes over Dharmasthala burials case, to question complainant". The Hindu. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  15. ^ Pinto, Nolan Patrick (26 July 2025). "SIT commences Dharmasthala 'secret burials' probe, full officer roster revealed". The South First. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  16. ^ Dharmasthala temple welcomes SIT probe into secret burial case, hopes for ‘highest level of investigation’
  17. ^ Raj, Sagay (29 July 2025). "Dharmasthala mass burial case: No human remains found at first exhumation site". India Today. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  18. ^ Another dig, another dud in Dharmasthala case: No human remains at five sites, Indian Today, Sagay Raj, Jul 30
  19. ^ Shivani, Kava; Prasanna, Pooja (31 July 2025). "Breakthrough in Dharmasthala case: Human remains found at Spot 6". The News Minute. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Dharmasthala mass burial case: Partial skeletal remains found at sixth site". The Hindu. 31 July 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  21. ^ Dharmasthala case: No remains found at 7th and 8th site, Deccan Herald, 01 August 2025
  22. ^ Dharmasthala mass burials, No human remains traced in two sites, Deccan Herald, Naina J, 02 August 2025
  23. ^ Dharmasthala mass burials, No human remains traced in two sites, Deccan Herald, Naina J, 02 August 2025
  24. ^ The Dharmasthala truth: As Karnataka SIT digs deeper, Times Of India, Aug 2, 2025
  25. ^ Chandrashekar, Nandini (21 July 2025). Rajendran, Dhanya (ed.). "Dharmasthala temple Dharmadhikari's brother gets gag order to delete over 8,800 links". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Dharmasthala burials case: 'No police officer has sought to be excluded from SIT'". The Hindu. 21 July 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  27. ^ Dharmasthala burial case: Kannada YouTuber booked for spreading AI-generated ‘false’ information, Hindustan Times, Jul 14, 2025
  28. ^ Dharmasthala case: Government monitoring social media posts; will take action if required, says Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara, The Hindu, August 01, 2025
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