Ex-Sanitation Worker’s Explosive Claims Prompt Legal and Public Pressure; CM Says Law Will Prevail Over Demands
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that the government will await a preliminary report from the state police before making any decision on forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged secret burials in Dharmasthala, a temple town of immense religious significance in Dakshina Kannada district.
The issue has drawn national attention after a former sanitation worker came forward with claims of having buried dozens of unidentified bodies in and around Dharmasthala between 1998 and 2014. The temple at the centre of the controversy, the Sree Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara temple, is managed by Veerendra Heggade, a prominent Jain dharmadhikari and BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP.
Police Report Will Determine SIT Formation
"We are not going to bow to pressure. We will act according to law, not based on public demands—even those made by retired judges," Siddaramaiah said on Friday.
“If an SIT is required, it will be constituted after the police department submits its report,” he added, maintaining that no decision has yet been taken.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the former sanitation worker, who had been missing for over 10 years, has now provided a voluntary statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and has offered to point out the burial locations.
Legal Voices and Public Pressure Mount
The CM's remarks came a day after a delegation of lawyers met him to demand an independent and thorough investigation. Among them was retired Supreme Court judge V Gopala Gowda, who addressed a press conference earlier this week, also advocating for an SIT-led probe.
"It’s been three weeks since the FIR was filed, yet there has been no significant headway. This raises questions about the influence being exerted on the investigation," said Justice Gowda.
Details of the Complaint
According to the complainant, dozens of unidentified bodies were secretly buried in Dharmasthala during his tenure as a sanitation worker. On July 4, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Dharmasthala police station under Section 211(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which places the onus on the complainant to submit evidence supporting their allegations.
The former worker later appeared in Belthangady magistrate court on July 11, submitting a sworn statement under CrPC 164 to substantiate the claims made in the FIR.
A Sensitive Case in a Politically and Religiously Significant Locale
Dharmasthala is not just a religious hub but also a politically sensitive region. The gravity of the allegations—linked to potential mass burials and cover-ups—has triggered a debate on institutional accountability, state response, and the impartiality of the ongoing police probe.
The government, for now, is treading cautiously, maintaining that law will dictate the course of action, and not external pressure.
No comments:
Post a Comment