Bengaluru/Mangaluru
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Dharmasthala mass burial and murder case has now been officially granted the status of a police station, a move expected to significantly strengthen the investigation and prevent legal hurdles during trial proceedings.
Empowered Status
According to Home Ministry sources, the order was issued on Thursday (August 7, 2025) night. This special designation means the SIT can now handle cases with the same authority as a regular police station.
However, the process remains tightly controlled — any complaints received by the SIT will first be redirected to the respective local police stations. Only upon the direction of Karnataka’s Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) M.A. Saleem will the SIT directly register a case.
Current Progress
The SIT is currently focusing on documentation work following seven days of exhumation operations at multiple sites linked to the case. Officials have indicated that no digging will take place on Friday, with operations expected to resume once a portion of documentation is complete.
All skeletal remains recovered so far have been securely packed and sent to forensic laboratories in Bengaluru for detailed analysis. Forensic experts will determine key details, including the sex of the deceased, which remains unknown at present.
Background of the Case
The SIT was constituted on July 19, 2025, following a shocking complaint by a former sanitation worker of the Dharmasthala Temple Administration. The whistleblower alleged that he had been forced to bury multiple bodies—many of which, he claimed, showed clear signs of violent deaths.
The allegations have drawn national attention due to their scale and the involvement of a prominent temple institution. The SIT’s upgraded powers are being seen as a crucial step in ensuring an unimpeded investigation.
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