Dharmasthala burial case: Karnataka High Court directs petitioners to submit independent information

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the alleged mass burial in Dharmasthala, on Thursday informed the Karnataka High Court that the plea for further excavations made by two petitioners is based on the information provided by the original complainant, who is accused in perjury proceedings. Special Public Prosecutor B N Jagadeesha submitted that the original informant is still under witness protection and the SIT is investigating a conspiracy angle.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Purandara Gowda and Tukaram Gowda, residents of Dharmasthala. The petitioners have sought directions to the SIT for further excavation of locations identified by them in their presence. The petitioners also requested the court to appoint a court commissioner, such as the Registrar (Judicial) or a retired district judge, to accompany them to the sites and to submit a factual report on the visible state of affairs to the court. Senior Counsel Deepak Khosla, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that based upon their discussion with the original informant, they had visited the sites and found that his information was true.

On the other hand, the Special Public Prosecutor submitted that the original complainant has been arrested and the two bodies recovered during the investigation were not found to be of females. “Our investigation is that the original complainant is lying. Because he is given witness protection, he is constantly being monitored along with a stream of lawyers, and a conspiracy angle is to be unearthed now,” Jagadeesha said.

Responding to the prayer in the petition, Justice M Nagaprasanna orally observed that if the relief is granted, it will lead to opening a Pandora's Box where more people can come to court with claims of seeing bodies and seek investigation. The court adjourned the hearing to September 26 while directing the petitioners to place on record any independent information about the burial of bodies.