Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Thursday assured the public that the state government is not shielding anyone in the unfolding Dharmasthala burial case, where a witness has alleged multiple rapes, suspicious deaths, and secret burials.
“There is absolutely no attempt to protect anyone. We are not here to sensationalize the matter, but we are committed to uncovering the truth,” Rao told reporters, reacting to growing demands for justice and transparency.
The witness’s claims, which include shocking revelations of mass sexual assaults and unnatural deaths, have already rattled state officials. The minister admitted, “The information shared is disturbing and deserves a thorough, honest investigation. If it holds up, the implications are very serious.”
Rao, who also serves as the Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister, responded to accusations of political or administrative shielding, stating that the police have been directed to follow the evidence wherever it leads, without bias.
Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court Judge Justice V Gopala Gowda, alongside a group of lawyers, continued to press for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). At a legal forum, Justice Gowda criticized the police for failing to exhume bodies and collect key evidence.
He highlighted that the witness, on July 11, presented skeletal remains and made a statement before the Belthangady magistrate court—naming individuals allegedly involved in serious crimes. Gowda stressed the legal value of this testimony and warned that continued delays suggest the influence of powerful vested interests.
The lawyers renewed their call for not just an SIT but also full forensic support, video-recorded procedures, and custodial interrogation of suspects.