The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has submitted a 7,000-page report to the court concluding its year-long probe into burial allegations in Dharmasthala, Karnataka. The investigation was launched following claims of illegal burials, which later faced legal scrutiny. The court will now review the extensive evidence gathered during the probe to decide on further proceedings.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with probing controversial allegations in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, has officially submitted its final report to the court. The document, spanning nearly 7,000 pages, marks the end of a year-long inquiry into claims of illegal burials and related criminal activities in the region. The investigative body has turned over all collected physical evidence, including a property register, to the judicial authorities for review.
The inquiry was established by the Karnataka government following public pressure and allegations made by a former sanitation worker, C.N. Chinnayya. The individual had claimed that between 1995 and 2014, he was involved in the illegal disposal of bodies of women and minors, alleging they were victims of serious crimes. These claims triggered significant concern, leading to the formation of a 20-member team to investigate decades of reported disappearances and deaths in the area.
Throughout the investigation, authorities conducted excavations at 15 sites, recovering various biological and soil samples for forensic analysis. While the probe initially centered on the sanitation worker's allegations, the process became complex as his testimony faced severe challenges. Investigators identified significant contradictions in his accounts, eventually leading to his arrest on charges of perjury.
The situation shifted further when the claimant approached the Karnataka High Court, asserting that he had been coerced by outside parties to manufacture false allegations against the local administration. He later secured bail from a court in Mangaluru. Given these developments, the judicial process is now focused on examining the SIT's findings to determine the validity of the claims and the next steps for the legal case. The court’s upcoming review of the massive documentation will be the primary monitorable for all parties involved in this matter.