Saturday, March 29, 2025
The Dharmasthala mass burial case in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district has taken a new turn after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) recovered two more human skulls on Thursday from Banglagudda, bringing the total to seven. Officials said the remains, believed to belong mostly to middle-aged men, could be around a year old. A forensic report is awaited to confirm their origin and cause of death.
Preliminary indications suggest the remains may be linked to suicides, though investigators have not ruled out other possibilities. The SIT is probing long-standing allegations of mass killings and illegal burials around the Dharmasthala temple town.
According to a Times of India report, five skulls were recovered on Wednesday and two more on Thursday. The search—conducted jointly by SIT officers, anti-Naxal force personnel, and forest officials—covered nearly 12 acres of dense forest in the Banglagudda reserve. Alongside the human remains, investigators also found a wooden stick.
The Dharmasthala case first hit headlines in July 2025 when C.N. Chinnayya, a former sanitation worker, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to bury over 100 bodies around the temple town. He claimed many victims were women and minors showing signs of sexual violence. Chinnayya even presented skeletal remains in court, sparking outrage.
Following the allegations, the Karnataka government formed the SIT on July 19 under DGP Pranab Mohanty. Excavations were carried out at 17 sites, though most yielded no major findings. In August, Chinnayya was arrested for alleged perjury and remanded in judicial custody. Adding to the twists, a woman later withdrew her claim about her missing daughter, which was found to be fabricated.
On Thursday, Chinnayya was produced before the Belthangady court, where his statement was recorded. He will appear again on September 23. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court directed petitioners to submit any independent evidence regarding alleged burials. Justice M. Nagaprasanna adjourned the matter to September 26.
The case has stirred sharp political exchanges. BJP leaders have accused the Congress-led state government of tarnishing the reputation of the Dharmasthala temple town, while Congress leaders dismissed the allegations as part of a conspiracy.
An SIT officer said, “The skulls appear recent and belong to men. Forensic testing will clarify the cause and timeline of death. We are considering suicide or natural causes as possible explanations.”
