Karnataka High Court Issues Notice to SIT in Dharmasthala Mass Grave Case
In a key development in the ongoing Dharmasthala mass grave case, the Karnataka High Court on Monday stepped in after two local residents raised concerns. The court issued a notice to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sensational allegations of buried bodies in Dharmasthala. This comes as the petitioners push for urgent inspections and excavations at spots they identified.
The bench, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, took up petitions from Purandara Gowda and another resident. They want the High Court to direct the SIT to act quickly on site visits and digging up the sites. The court noted that the SIT hadn’t addressed their earlier requests, prompting this move.
Justice Nagaprasanna also instructed Special Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha to receive the notice on behalf of the SIT. He must consult the team and update the court by Thursday, September 18. This ensures the investigation into the Dharmasthala murder case moves forward without delays.
Senior counsel Deepak Khosla, speaking for the petitioners, highlighted the seriousness. He said they face punishment if their claims turn out false. Khosla added that the pleas, filed on August 6 and August 29, urge the SIT to recover bodies at specific Dharmasthala locations. He warned that these bodies are partly exposed, vulnerable to animals and people.
The petitioners demand time-bound action, including on-site inspections and excavations with their presence. They also call for a court commissioner—perhaps a judicial registrar or retired judge—to join them at the burial sites and file a factual report. Plus, they seek a status update from the SIT on the overall Dharmasthala case probe to guarantee a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has clarified the government’s stance. He said it’s tough to set a strict deadline for the SIT’s report in this complex Dharmasthala murder case. "We’ve told the SIT to speed up the probe, but we can’t force a fixed timeline," Parameshwara explained. He noted the investigation’s direction remains unclear right now. If it wraps up soon, a report follows; otherwise, the SIT keeps digging until they get answers.
Parameshwara stressed that such sensitive cases don’t fit neat deadlines. "We can’t dictate how or when to finish—it’s up to the SIT to reach a solid conclusion," he added. As the Dharmasthala mass grave investigation unfolds, all eyes are on the SIT’s next steps and the court’s role in pushing for transparency.
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