NEW DELHI: A former sanitation worker in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala, who alleged he had been coerced into burying multiple murder victims over several years, has been arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and sent to 10-day police custody.According to PTI, SIT and its chief, Pranab Mohanty, have questioned the complainant on Friday.Officials said the arrest was made after inconsistencies were found in the statements and documents provided.Home minister G Parameshwara told reporters in Udupi, “The SIT has arrested the complainant witness, and he is in police custody. Since the investigation is in progress, more details cannot be disclosed. We cannot disclose more about the case until the SIT submits a final report. “There is a need for the SIT to find whether there is a racket behind the case. Only through a final report will such details be disclosed. Only the SIT can disclose why he was arrested and the purpose. Based on the complainant witness’s statement, we commenced the investigation. We do not instruct the SIT on how to conduct the investigation,” the home minister said.On BJP’s allegations of ‘conspiracy’ against Dharmasthala in the case, Parameshwara said they will do it, and they will continue to do so. “Many have been commenting and making statements. However, we cannot conclude on the basis of their statements and comments,” he said.The complainant-witness was taken to a hospital for medical examination after long hours of questioning.The man, who worked in the temple town between 1995 and 2014, filed a complaint claiming he was forced to dispose of bodies linked to criminal activities.ALSO READ: ‘I was forced to bury bodies for years’: Ex-sanitation worker’s chilling claim in Karnataka’s DharmasthalaHe said he had revisited one of the alleged burial sites and recovered skeletal remains, submitting photographs to the authorities.
Dharmasthala mass burial case
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Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on 4 July, a day after the complaint was submitted to the Superintendent of Police and Dharmasthala police station. The complainant, whose identity has been withheld, claimed he could identify perpetrators and point out burial sites. He also sought legal protection for himself and his family. His lawyer had said sketches of those allegedly killed would be submitted to court at a later stage.ALSO READ: Devotees’ forum condemns smear campaigns against Dharmasthala Dakshina Kannada SP Arun K said: “The complainant has claimed he secretly disposed of the bodies of those killed due to criminal activities. Burdened with guilt, he has expressed willingness to reveal details of those involved in the crimes and the burial locations, provided he and his family are given protection.”
Police have not confirmed the authenticity of the skeletal remains or the number of possible victims. The allegations have unsettled Dharmasthala, better known for its spiritual and cultural heritage than for violent crime.A chilling complaint and case The Special Investigation Team (SIT) said it had unearthed 15 bones — suspected to be human — from a forested patch near the Netravathi river earlier this month. The remains, believed to be of a man, were dug out from the sixth of 13 locations. A forensic expert at the site offered a preliminary opinion suggesting the bones were male, though officials stressed a full examination was needed before confirmation. “Forensic doctors and the scene-of-crime officers seized the body parts after noting down the details, including the location and the way the parts were found,” an SIT officer said. The recovery comes two days after the SIT began its exhumation drive. From the first site, investigators had recovered a PAN card and a debit card. The PAN card was traced to Suresh, a man from Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural district who died of jaundice earlier this year and was cremated in his village. “The deceased was an alcoholic and may have lost the card during a prior visit to Dharmasthala,” the official added, hinting at unrelated findings that complicate the probe.
