Bengaluru: A discrepancy of 30 Unnatural Death Report (UDR) cases has emerged between records maintained by the Beltangady police station and data collected by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case.
According to a comprehensive report submitted by SIT head Dr Pranab Mohanty, Beltangady police station records show 1,480 UDR cases registered between 1998 and 2014. However, information collected from sources including the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), local bodies and gram panchayats indicates 1,510 cases for the same period. The SIT is examining the reasons for the difference.
SIT examining records from multiple sources
The details form part of a report submitted by Dr Pranab Mohanty, then Director General of Police, Internal Security Division and head of the SIT, to the Karnataka chief secretary on March 24, 2026.
The SIT was constituted by the Karnataka government on July 19, 2025, to investigate Crime No. 39/2025 registered at Dharmasthala police station. Its mandate also covers information concerning unnatural deaths, missing women and girls, rapes, murders and suspicious deaths reported in Dharmasthala and Ujire between 1998 and 2014.
The team has been collecting information from police stations and outposts, the Assistant Commissioner’s office, gram panchayats, the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB), SCRB and the information office of the Dharmasthala temple trust.
The SIT has received 73 complaint petitions so far, according to the report.
Women’s Commission sought progress report
Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary sent a reminder to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on August 6, seeking a comprehensive progress report on the SIT investigation into Crime No. 39/2025.
The Commission had earlier sought such a report on January 12, 2026. In its August communication, it said the information was required to review the investigation from the perspective of women’s safety and justice.
The Commission specifically sought details concerning missing women and girls, murders and unnatural deaths in and around Dharmasthala.
SIT says report was submitted in March
In a response dated August 31, Dr Pranab Mohanty, DGP (CID) and SIT head, informed the Women’s Commission that a comprehensive report on the inquiry and investigation had already been submitted to the chief secretary on March 24.
A copy of the report was enclosed with the response in a sealed envelope, according to the details reported by the SIT.
The report also stated that the investigation was not confined to the statements of the complainant and the current accused, C N Chinnayya.
The SIT said searches within the Dharmasthala police station limits had resulted in the recovery of seven skulls and human skeletal remains. The remains were sent for expert examination to determine their gender and cause of death, while efforts were being made to establish their identities through available evidence and DNA comparison with relatives. Earlier reporting has also confirmed that the SIT recovered seven skulls and other remains during its investigation.
Several older cases being examined
The SIT report refers to a number of older cases while examining the information gathered from different records.
2002 Boliyaru Kudraya UDR case
In UDR No. 37/2002, the SIT verified the location of an unnatural death as the Boliyaru Kudraya forest area. The body of an unidentified young woman had been found there and a UDR case registered.
The petitioner and related witnesses were questioned as part of the verification.
2009 unidentified woman’s murder
The report also refers to Crime No. 206/2009, registered at Beltangady police station under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC following a complaint regarding the murder of an unidentified woman.
The complaint stated that the woman had suffered an acid attack on her face. As her heirs could not be traced, her body was subsequently buried at the Mangaluru Nandigudde cemetery on September 30, 2009.
2010 Sharavathi Lodge case
Another case under examination is Crime No. 83/2010, relating to the death of an unidentified woman at Room No. 246 of Sharavathi Lodge in Dharmasthala.
The report states that a complaint was filed by Surendra Ballal on April 6, 2010, alleging that the woman had been strangled. Although police records mention an autopsy, the SIT found that the post-mortem report was unavailable and said relevant documents were being scrutinised.
2003 Netravati case
In another case, the bodies of an unidentified man aged between 35 and 45 and a minor girl aged between 10 and 12 were found in the Netravati river near the vented dam at the Dharmasthala bathing ghat on September 2, 2003.
A UDR case, No. 69/2003, was registered as accidental drowning. The SIT found differences between burial details recorded in the UDR documents and the corresponding gram panchayat records and is verifying the discrepancy.
Year-wise UDR data shows differences
The Beltangady police station records list the following UDR cases between 1998 and 2014:
| Year | Police station records | Other sources |
|---|
| 1998 | 75 | 78 |
| 1999 | 78 | 79 |
| 2000 | 81 | 82 |
| 2001 | 90 | 95 |
| 2002 | 101 | 102 |
| 2003 | 95 | 99 |
| 2004 | 88 | 91 |
| 2005 | 69 | 72 |
| 2006 | 89 | 93 |
| 2007 | 95 | 96 |
| 2008 | 82 | 85 |
| 2009 | 96 | 99 |
| 2010 | 89 | 83 |
| 2011 | 70 | 70 |
| 2012 | 92 | 96 |
| 2013 | 80 | 80 |
| 2014 | 110 | 110 |
| Total | 1,480 | 1,510 |
The difference amounts to 30 cases. The SIT is continuing to consolidate and analyse the records obtained from different agencies and local bodies.
SIT clarifies scope of investigation
The March 24 report also stated that the SIT does not have suo motu powers to investigate every older case or other crimes against women referred to in the Women’s Commission’s correspondence.
According to the SIT, under the government’s original order, such cases can be investigated by the team only after the DG and IGP transfer the cases to the SIT and issue the necessary order.
The SIT further stated that its report and documents concerning Crime No. 39/2025 were submitted before the court on November 20, 2025, under Section 215 of the BNSS. Further investigation relating to missing persons, rapes, murders and unnatural or suspicious deaths connected with Crime No. 39/2025 is being conducted in accordance with the government order.
The developments come amid continuing legal proceedings concerning the broader Dharmasthala cases. Separately, the Supreme Court has since directed a fresh investigation into the 2012 rape and murder of Sowjanya, leading the Karnataka government to constitute another SIT in September 2026.