Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Dharmasthala mass burial case has intensified its investigation by adding ten new charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These fresh charges relate to perjury, forgery, fabrication of evidence, and false declarations against the whistleblower, who was earlier arrested for allegedly misleading investigators.
New charges over fabricated skull evidence
According to police sources, the additional charges pertain specifically to a skull submitted before the Belthangady court by the whistleblower, a former sanitation worker of the Dharmasthala temple administration.
“The newly added sections relate only to the skull submitted before the Belthangady court and have been included in the same FIR,” a senior officer said, clarifying that the original charges in the case remain unchanged.
Investigators allege that the whistleblower attempted to bolster his claims by fabricating evidence, which has now been deemed suspicious after forensic review and cross-verification.
Arrest and questioning of whistleblower
The whistleblower, popularly known as the “mask man,” was arrested earlier this week after overnight interrogation. Authorities alleged that he misled investigators and provided false information regarding multiple alleged burial sites.
Out of 15 locations identified by him, skeletal remains of only one male were recovered, raising doubts about the authenticity of his claims of mass burials involving 70–80 bodies.
Case background and controversy
The case gained national attention after the whistleblower alleged that several bodies had been secretly buried at different locations, some reportedly showing signs of sexual assault. He denied any attempt to malign the temple and maintained that he was motivated by a sense of justice.
However, police sources indicated that fabricating evidence in such a sensitive case could seriously hinder investigations into recovered human remains, missing persons reports, and other Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs) still under scrutiny.
Home Minister’s statement
Earlier, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had told the Assembly that stringent action would be taken if the SIT found the whistleblower’s claims to be false. With the addition of ten more charges, legal experts say the case could see lengthy proceedings given the serious nature of the alleged offences, including perjury and evidence tampering in a high-profile investigation.
Continuing probe
The SIT continues to focus on determining whether the skull and other materials submitted by the whistleblower were part of a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities or connected to a genuine criminal incident.
Police maintain that findings from forensic examinations and corroborative evidence will be crucial in deciding the course of prosecution. Further investigation into missing persons cases and related death reports is ongoing.
Conclusion
With additional charges under BNS and heightened scrutiny over evidence handling, the Dharmasthala case has entered a critical phase. Authorities emphasise that only a thorough and impartial investigation can establish the truth behind the sensational allegations and ensure justice is served.